• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.716-726
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of hand reflexology on the physiological.emotional responses and immunity of the patients with chronic illness. This study looked specifically at patients with chronic renal failure(CRF) and cancer patients. Method: This study was designed as a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group pre and post test. Subjects were 54 patients who received dialysis and chemotherapy in one hospital. Thirty-one patients were assigned to the experimental group and 23 to the control group. The hand reflexology was applied to both hands of the experiment group for ten minutes each time, 5 times during three days. For data collection, physiological lab levels, immune cells of blood and questionnaires for emotional responses were measured before and after the program. Result: BT of the experiment group was decreased significantly on both of the 1st and the 5th application. PR & BP were decreased significantly on the 1st times, but not 5th times. Hb levels of the experimental group were significantly increased. And emotional responses, vigor and mood scores of the experiment group were significantly increased. B cell & CD19 were increased significantly on the experiment group. Suppressor T cell and NK cell showed significant decrease after the program, but no significant differences between the groups. Conclusion: We have found that the hand reflexology helps the chronic patients to improve physiological.emotional responses and the immune reaction. Through this result, the hand reflexology is effective as a intervention of psychoneuroimmunologic function.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2018

Triglyceride (TG) is known to be associated with inflammatory disease including atherosclerosis. In a variety of atherosclerosis models, T lymphocytes are localized in the earliest lesions of atherosclerosis. T cell associated cytokines such as $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ have pre-dominant inflammatory effects in chronic vascular diseases. In our previous study, we found that the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and its receptor, $TNF-{\alpha}R$ was increased when Jurkat T lymphocyte cell lines were exposed to TGs. Therefore, experiments were conducted to determine which cell signaling pathway are involved in the increase of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}R$ expression by TGs. To identify signal transduction pathways involved in TG-induced upregulation of $TNF-{\alpha}$, we treated TG-exposed Jurkat T cells with specific inhibitors for MEK1, PI3K, $NF-{\kappa}B$ and PKC. We found that inhibition of the MEK1 pathway blocked TG-induced upregulation of $TNF-{\alpha}$. However, the expression level of $TNF-{\alpha}R$ did not change with any signal transduction inhibitor. Based on this observation, we suggest that increase of exogenous TG induces increase of $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression through MEK1 pathway in Jurkat T cells. In addition, it was confirmed that the increase of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}R$ expression by TGs occurs via different pathways.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.335-344
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• 2006

Osteoblast or bone marrow stromal cell-derived RANKL is the major effector molecule essential for osteoclastogenesis. Previous studies have shown that tetracyclines have beneficial therapeutic effects in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bone disease including periodontal disease. Periodontal ligament cells are thought not only to play an important role in the progression of periodontal disease, but to play an important role in alveolar bone remodeling. Previous studies indicated that receptor activation of nuclear factor $\kappa\;B$ ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) are expressed in periodontal ligament cells by pro-inflammatory cytokine, such as $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$. This study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effect of doxycycline on RANKL and OPG mRNA in rat periodontal ligament cells induced by $IL-1{\beta}$ (1 ng/ml). The results are as follows; 1. MTT assay showed that doxycycline at the concentration of $1-50\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ didn't result in statistically significant cell death at day 1 and 3. 2. RANKL mRNA expression was increased to 2.6 folds by $IL-1{\beta}$. When cells were treated with doxycycline ($50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$), $IL-1{\beta}$ -induced mRANKL expression was reduced by 33%. In contrast to RANKL, OPG mRNA expression was not inhibited by pre-treatment with doxycycline. These results suggest that doxycycline decrease the expression of mRANKL resulting in regulation of osteoclastogenesisp in rat periodontal ligament cells.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.89-101
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was find out the therapeutic effects of its exclusive use on the rat with allergic rhinitis. Materials and Methods : Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three group : normal group, control group and sample group. To induce the allergic rhinitis in control group and sample group, rats were sensitized intraperitoneally with 0.1% ovalumin solution 3 times at intervals of 1 week. Then intranasal sensitization was performed by diffusing 0.1% ovalumin solution 3 times at intervals of 2 days. After that time, rats in the sample group were administered by $Yonghyang$($LI_{20}$) subcutaneously to treat the inflammation. Results : 1. The anti-oxidant effects of $Hwangryunhaedok-tang$ extract was dose-dependantly increased. 2. The RAW 264.7 cells were treated with LPS for 1 hours prior to the addition of indicated concentrations ($0.4,-1.0mg/m{\ell}$) of HHT, and the cells were further incubated for 24 hours. The LPS-induced iNOS mRNA expression and NO production were dose-dependantly decreased in HHT treated RAW 264.7 cells. 3. The number of eosinophil in HP noticeably decreased than CON and this decrease had probability. The infiltration of eosinophil in HP noticeably decreased than CON. 4. The damaged mucosa as disruption of cilia in respiratory cell and vacant mucose secreting cell were increased CON, but HP same as normal configuration. Decrease of PAS positive cell were shown in CON, but goblet cell occupied with neutral mucous were shown in HP. Decrease of mucosal stress(HSP70). Decrease of perennial sign(PPAR-${\gamma}$). Decrease of icthing and sneezing intricate neurotransmitter-(substance P). 5. The anti-inflammation of HHT pharmacopuncture for AR caused mucosa comes to result as belows. Decrease of pre-inflammation cytokine(TNF-${\alpha}$). Decrease of transcription factor (NF-${\kappa}B$ p65). Decrease of transcription factor inhibitor(p-$I{\kappa}B$). Decrease of inflammation cytokine(iNOS). Conclusions : The results may suggest that administration treatment using $Hwangryunhaedok-tang$ pharmacopucnture decreases the inflammatory response on an animal model with allergic rhinitis.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.809-819
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• 2004

In this paper, in order to exclude the expansion of M/W relay frequency or its new frequency assignment possibly, we analyzed a possibility of substituting M/W system by B-WLL or optical fiber network regarding service quality and economical points. To define the target of service quality, pre-condition and analysis method for the selected media have been derived to compare each other. E1 transmission with BER 10$^{-1}$ was chosen as a reference capacity, and service distance was calculated f3r the selected media as a function of availability. Also from the economical point we considered 3 systems such as optical fiber, M/W, and B-WLL based upon basic system structure, and analyzed them for various line configurations of fiber optic and B-WLL according to service period, system capacity, transmission distance, and data rate. It was confirmed that B-WLL can provide quality of service with 99.999 % availability within 1.6 km cell radius, and for optical fiber substitution, the leased fiber conduit on an electric pole is more economical than M/W system irrespective of service period, but in case of directly digging for underground conduit, it turned out ineffective regardless of cabling duct types.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.39.1-39.15
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination may non-specifically alter the host immune system. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on hepatitis B surface Ag (HBsAg) titer and host immunity in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Consecutive 2,797 CHB patients who had serial HBsAg measurements during antiviral treatment were included in this study. Changes in the HBsAg levels after COVID-19 vaccination were analyzed. The dynamics of NK cells following COVID-19 vaccination were also examined using serial blood samples collected prospectively from 25 healthy volunteers. Vaccinated CHB patients (n=2,329) had significantly lower HBsAg levels 1-30 days post-vaccination compared to baseline (median, -21.4 IU/ml from baseline), but the levels reverted to baseline by 91-180 days (median, -3.8 IU/ml). The velocity of the HBsAg decline was transiently accelerated within 30 days after vaccination (median velocity: -0.06, -0.39, and -0.04 log₁₀ IU/ml/year in pre-vaccination period, days 1-30, and days 31-90, respectively). In contrast, unvaccinated patients (n=468) had no change in HBsAg levels. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the frequency of NK cells expressing NKG2A, an NK inhibitory receptor, significantly decreased within 7 days after the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine (median, -13.1% from baseline; p<0.001). The decrease in the frequency of NKG2A⁺ NK cells was observed in the CD56^dimCD16⁺ NK cell population regardless of type of COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccination leads to a rapid, transient decline in HBsAg titer and a decrease in the frequency of NKG2A⁺ NK cells.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.3893-3898
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• 2011

Cellular uptake of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) triggers strong innate immune responses via activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ transcription factor. However, the detailed mechanism of dsDNA-mediated innate immune response remains yet to be elucidated. Here, we show that the expression of tazarotene-induced gene 3 (TIG3) is dramatically induced by dsDNA stimulation, and the siRNA-mediated down-regulation of TIG3 mRNA results in significant suppression of dsDNA-triggered cytokine expression. Because TIG3 has been previously shown to physically interact with transglutaminase (TG) 1 to activate TG activity, and TG2 has been shown to induce NF-${\kappa}B$ activity by inducing $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ polymerization, we tested whether TG also plays a role in dsDNA-mediated innate immune response. Pre-treatment of TG inhibitors dramatically reduces dsDNA-triggered cytokine induction. We also show that, in HeLa cells, TG2 is the major TG, and TIG3 physically interacts with TG2. Combined together, our results suggest a novel mechanism of dsDNA-triggered innate immune response which is critically dependent on TIG3 and TG2.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.42-50
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• 2020

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a lipid messenger mediated by G protein-coupled receptors (LPAR1-6). It is involved in the pathogenesis of certain chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In addition, it controls the self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells. Recent research has demonstrated the close relationship between periodontitis and various diseases in the human body. However, the precise role of LPA in the development of periodontitis has not been studied. We identified that LPAR1 was highly expressed in human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). In periodontitis-mimicking conditions with Porphyromonas gingivalis-derived lipopolysaccharide (Pg-LPS) treatment, PDLSCs exhibited a considerable reduction in the cellular viability and osteogenic differentiation potential, in addition to an increase in the inflammatory responses including tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β expression and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) activation. Of the various LPAR antagonists, pre-treatment with AM095, an LPAR1 inhibitor, showed a positive effect on the restoration of cellular viability and osteogenic differentiation, accompanied by a decrease in NF-κB signaling, and action against Pg-LPS. These findings suggest that the modulation of LPAR1 activity will assist in checking the progression of periodontitis and in its treatment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.539-547
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• 2018

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) research has recently focused on the use of rat and mouse models for in vivo SCI experiments. Such small rodent SCI models are invaluable for the field, and much has been discovered about the biologic and physiologic aspects of SCI from these models. It has been difficult, however, to reproduce the efficacy of treatments found to produce neurologic benefits in rodent SCI models when these treatments are tested in human clinical trials. A large animal model may have advantages for translational research where anatomical, physiological, or genetic similarities to humans may be more relevant for pre-clinically evaluating novel therapies. Here, we review the work carried out at the University of British Columbia (UBC) on a large animal model of SCI that utilizes Yucatan miniature pigs. The UBC porcine model of SCI may be a useful intermediary in the pre-clinical testing of novel pharmacological treatments, cell-based therapies, and the "bedside back to bench" translation of human clinical observations, which require preclinical testing in an applicable animal model.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.524-531
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• 2005

Two experiments were conducted to standardize in ovo injection of amino acids (AA) and to evaluate the effect of in ovo injection of limiting AA(s) on pre and post hatch growth performance, immune response and development of digestive organs. Combinations of essential and non-essential amino acids (Lys+Arg, Lys+Met+Cys, Thr+Gly+Ser, Ile+Leu+Val and Gly+Pro) were injected into 50 eggs in each treatment group at 14 d of embryonic age. Standardization of injection site, needle length and embryonic age revealed that when AA were injected in to the broad end of the egg with a 11 mm needle and at the narrow end with a 24 mm needle both at the 7$^{th}$ and 14$^{th}$ d of incubation there was poor hatchability. However, better hatchability was recorded when the AA were injected in the narrow end of the egg with a 11 mm needle and in the broad end with a 24 mm needle on the 14$^{th}$ d of incubation. The chick to egg weight ratio was higher (p<0.018) when AA were injected on the 14$^{th}$ d of incubation. When a combination of amino acids were injected a 63.6 or 63.2 g difference in body weight of bird at 21 d was recorded between uninjected control and Ile+Leu+Val or Gly+Pro group, respectively. Higher feed intake (p<0.047) was recorded in the AA injected groups and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was numerically better in Gly+Pro, Lys+Met+Cys AA injected groups than in the uninjected control. Significantly higher immune response to cell mediated (p<0.033) and humoral (p<0.002) immunity was observed in in ovo amino acid injected birds, especially in Lys+Met+Cys, Thr+Gly+Ser or Ile+leu+Val groups. The digestive organ weights at 21 d did not differ between specific AA injected groups and the uninjected control. In ovo injected amino acids may act as immunomodulators and their role in gastrointestinal development needs further research.