• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.235-242
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• 1998

Objectives : Alcohol-induced oxidative stress has been known to injure various tissues or organs. This stress is related with free radicals which are produced as the result of long-term alcohol consumption. Malonyldialdehyde(MDA) is produced by the interaction of free radicals and cell membrane lipids, and indicates the degree of lipid peroxidation indirectly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between red blood cell(RBC) membrane lipid peroxidation by free radicals, and associated hepatic injuries and hematologic changes. Methods : Thirty-three subjects diagnosed as alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were evaluated within 72 hours after discontinuing alcohol drinking. Clinical characteristics were evaluated by CAGE questionnaire and Korean Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test(MAST). RBC membrane MDA level was measured as the marker of RBC membrane lipid peroxidation. Aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase(GGT) were used as the biochemical markers of liver damage due to alcohol ingestion. The alcohol-induced hematologic change was assessed by mean corpuscular volume(MCV). Results : The results were as follows. Clinical characteristics were not different between two groups having normal and abnormal levels of AST, ALT, GGT or MCV. The levels of MDA were not correlated with the clinical characteristics and serum levels of AST, ALT and GGT. However, there was a significant correlation between the levels of MDA and the value of MCV(p=0.017). Conclusions : These findings suggest that oxidative stress in alcohol dependence may not be reflected in liver enzyme markers such as AST, ALT and GGT, but may be reflected in MCV.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 1993

The toxic effects of methylmercury on the ultrastructures of the brain and gill tissues of fightingfish and compensative effects of red ginseng were investigated by means of electron microscopy. The brain neuron of methylmercury exposure group showed dilatation of dendrite and axon, numerical decrease of ribosomes, partial loss of nucleoplasm and cytoplasm and considerable swelling of mitochondria as compared with the normal neuron. And necrotic cell with ruptured nucleus and vacuolated mitochondria was noticeable. While, slight swelling of mitochondria, some dilation of dendrite and axon and numerical increase of ribosome occurred in the neuron of methylmercury-red ginseng treatment group as compared with the methylmercury exposure group. In the gill lamella of methylmercury exposure group, collapse of pillar cells and arms, dilated epithelial cell and thickened membrane were observed. While, in the gill lamella of methylmercury-red ginseng treatment group, arms were slightly disintegrated and basement membrane was some thickend as compared with the methylmercury exposure group. From the above results, it is concluded that red ginseng has detoxication effect on methylmercury toxicity and so takes compensative effect on injured tissues caused by methylmercury intoxication.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2693-2696
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• 2015

The diagnostic value of membrane glycolipid biochemistry index, the lipid-bound sialic acid (LSA) and total sialic acid (TSA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was evaluated in 30 intracranial and 65 gastrointestinal tumors. The plasma LSA, TSA and red cell membrane sialic acid (R-SA) in were determined according to the method of Sevenmerhulm. Our results showed that the levels of LSA and TSA in CSF of intracranial tumor patients was higher than that of normal group(p<0.01). The concentration of TSA and LSA in patients with malignant glioma was higher than that of benign meningioma patients(P<0.01). No significance was found between intracranial halmatoma patients and normal control group for levels of membrane glycolipids (p>0.05). Results also found that the plasma LSA, TSA and R-SA of gastric carcinoma were significantly higher than those of control group (p<0.05); while no significant difference was found in the plasma LSA, TSA and R-SA levels between chronic gastritis, gastrohelcoma and normal control group (p>0.05). Plasma LSA, TSA and R-SA levels of gastric carcinoma patient were significantly higher than those of chronic gastritis patients and gastrohelcoma patients(p<0.05). It was also found that plasma LSA, TSA and R-SA contents were significantly higher in large intestine carcinoma patients than in benign in stestine tumor patients (p<0.05) while no significant difference was found between intestine benign tumor and normal control group (p>0.05). The levels of LSA, TSA and R-SA were obviously higher in the patients with metastasis than in the ones without (p<0.05.) The membrane glycolipid biochemistry index LSA and TSA in CSF are sensive markers for diagnosing intracranial tumors. For gastrointestinal malignant tumors the plasma LSA TSA and red blood cell membrane SA may be considered as auxiliary indicators for diagnosis. They can be used for distinguishing benign from malignant tumors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 1989

Gentamicin (GM) is a polybasic, aminoglycoside antibiotic used frequently for the treatment of serious gram-negative infections. The major limiting factors in the clinical use of GM as well as other aminoglycoside antibiotics are their nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. The primary mechanism of cell injury in aminoglycoside toxicity appears to be the disruption of normal membrane function and the inhibition of $Na^{+}-K^{+}$ ATPase activity. There are both indirect and direct evidences which suggests that the effect of aminoglycoside antibiotics on $Na^{+}-K^{+}$ ATPase may explain, or contribute to, their toxicity. It has been shown that aminoglycoside reduce total ATPase activity (Kaku et al., 1973) and $Na^{+}-K^{+}$ ATPase activity (linuma et al., 1967) in the stria vascularis and spiral ligament of the guinea-pig cochlea. Lipsky and Lietman (1980) reported that aminoglycoside antibitoics inhibited the activity of $Na^{+}-K^{+}$ ATPase in microsomal fractions of the cortex and medulla of the guinea-pig kidney, isolated rat renal tubule and human erythrocyte ghosts. The present invstigation was undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of GM on human erythrocytes by examining its effect on $Na^{+}-K^{+}$ ATPase activity, actives sodium and potassium transport across red blood cell and $^{3}H-ouabain$ binding to red blood cell membranes. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1) CM inhibited significantly both the activity of total ATPase and $Na^{+}-K^{+}$ ATPase at all concentrations tested. 2) GM inhibited active $^{22}Na$ efflux across red blood cell. When ouabain is present, the rate of $^{22}Na$ efflux was completely inhibited. When both GM and ouabain were added, the inhibitory effect of active $^{22}Na$ efflux was more pronounced. 3) Active $^{86}Rb$ influx was inhibited significantly by GM. In the presence of ouabain, the rate of $^{86}Rb$ influx is markedly inhibited. But $^{86}Rb$ influx is not appreciably altered by the presence of both GM and ouabain. 4) In the presence of GM, $^{3}H-ouabain$ binding to red blood cell membrane increased. From the above results, it may be concluded that the inhibition of active sodium and potassium transport across red blood cell by gentamicin appears to be due to the inhibition of $Na^{+}-K^{+}$ ATPase activity and an increase in ouabain binding to red blood cell membranes.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.844-849
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• 2008

We present a novel cell deformability monitoring chip based on the digitally measured cell lysis rate which is dependent on the areal strain of the cell membrane. This method offers simple cell deformability monitoring by automated high-throughput testing system. We suggest the filter design considering the areal strain imposed on the cell membrane passing through the filter array having gradually increased orifice length. In the experiment using erythrocytes, we characterized the cell deformability in terms of average fracture areal strain which was $0.24{\pm}0.014\;and\;0.21{\pm}0.002$ for normal and chemically treated erythrocytes, respectively. We also verified that the areal strain of 0.15 effectively discriminates the deformability difference of normal and chemically treated erythrocytes, which can be applied to the clinical situation. We compared the lysis rates and their difference for the samples from different donors and found that the present chips can be commonly used without any calibration process. The experimental results demonstrate the simple structure and high performance of the present cell deformability monitoring chips, applicable to simple and cost-effective cell aging process monitoring.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.187-190
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• 1994

The pith and xylem parts of fresh root that turned into inside-white during processing for red ginseng was investigated under scanning electron microscope in comparison with the sa31e position of fresh root processed into normal reddening. In the inside-white part starch storage cells remain mostly in vacancy or with small number of starch granules and with large hollow by missing cell membranes between cells. Many starch seed granules appeared on the surface of storage cell wall in the inside-white part. Fresh root sample showed better picture than dried powder.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.360-367
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• 2014

Candida albicans is an opportunistic and the most prevalent fungal pathogen that can cause superficial and systemic infections in immunocompromised patients. C. albicans can promote the transition from budding yeast to filamentous form, generating biofilms. Infections associated with C. albicans biofilms are frequently resistant to conventional antifungal therapy. Therefore, the development of more effective antifungal drugs related with biofilm formation is required urgently. The roots of Rheum undulatum have been used for medicinal purposes in Korea and China traditionally. The aim of present study was to evaluate the effect of R. undulatum extract upon preformed biofilms of 12 clinical C. albicans isolates and the antifungal activities. Its effect on preformed biofilms was evaluated using XTT reduction assay, and metabolic activity of all tested strains was reduced significantly ($49.4{\pm}6.0%$) at 0.098 mg/ml R. undulatum. The R. undulatum extract blocked the adhesion of C. albicans biofilms to polystyrene surfaces, and damaged the cell membrane integrity of C. albicans which was analyzed by CFDA, AM, and propidium iodide double staining. It caused cell lysis which was observed by Confocal laser scanning and phase contrast microscope after propidium iodide and neutral red staining, respectively. Membrane permeability was changed as evidenced by crystal violet uptake. The data suggest that R. undulatum inhibits biofilm formation by C. albicans, which can be associated with the damage of the cell membrane integrity, the changes in the membrane permeability and the cell lysis of C. albicans.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.159-176
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• 2003

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the antioxidant activities of Alismatis Rhizoma herbal acupuncture by experimental methods. Methods : For this purpose, first, we put an emphasis in the control of enzymes of the antioxidant system in various changes inside the cell; these changes caused by the proliferation or the activation of the cell which were brought about by the handling of PMA and $TNF-{\alpha}$ into the THP-1 monocyte cell of the body each other. After that, we caused the acute oxidant symptom by the injection of AAPH into the mouse' abdominal cavity, and then applied the herbal acupuncture on S36 point(足三里), and finally, we measured the change of blood ingredient and the resistance against the activated oxygen of the red blood cell membrane, MDA, SOD, and catalase. Results : In vitro the revelation of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-8, $TNF-{\alpha}$, NOS II and IL-6 were decreased and the revelation of IL-10, $TGF-{\beta}$, GM-CSFIL-12, GM-CSF and SOD were increased. The DNA-binding of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-1 were activated and the formation of ROS in the THP-1 cell line was decreased. In vivo $IL-1{\beta}$ among producing the cytokine inside the plasma was meaningfully dwindled and the $INF-{\gamma}$ was meaningfully increased. The resistance of red blood cell membrane against the activated oxygen was meaningfully increased and the MDA formation was meaningfully dwindled, In the activation of hepatic antioxidase, the SOD was meaningfully increased. Conclusion : Alismatis Rhizoma herbal acupuncture by experimental methods has effected on the antioxidant activities.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 1974

The effect of ginseng on the ATPase activity of rabbit ref cell membrane has been investigated. The experiments were also designed to determine whether the components of ginseng could be attributed to the effect on ATPase activity which dependent upon sodium plus potassium and is sensitive to ouabain. The following results were observed. 1. The activity of the $Na^{+}-K^{+}-ATPase$ from red cell membrane is stimulated by ginseng, and the concentration of ginseng for half-maximal activity is about 15 mg%. The pH optimum for the ginseng sensitive component is 7.6. 2. The portion of the enzyme activity stimulated by ginseng is completely abolished by ouabain. 3. The activating effect of ginseng on the ATPase, with a given concentration of sodium in the medium, is increased by raising the potassium concentration but activity ratio is decreased. 4. The activating effect of ginseng on the ATPase, with a given concentration of potassium in the medium, is increased by raising the sodium concentration but the activity ratio is decreased. 5. The ATPase activity is increased by small amounts of calcium but inhibited by larger amounts and the rate of activity by ginseng is constant. 6. The action of ginseng on the ATPase activity was not related to the sulfhydryl group of cysteine, the amino group of lysine, the imidazole group of histidine, the quanidinium group of arginine, the carboxyl group of aspartic acid, or the hydroxyl group of threonine. 7. The activating effect of ginseng on the ATPase activity may be not due to a saponin which is contained in ginseng.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 1976

The action of serotonin on the sodium plus potassium activated ATPase activity in the rabbit red cell membrane has been investigated. The experiments were also designed to determine the mechanism of action of serotonin on the ATPase activity. The following results were obtained. 1) The NaK ATPase activity of rabbit red cell ghosts is stimulated by low concentration of serotonin but inhibited by higher concentration, and the concentration of serotonin for maximal activity is about 2mM. The pH optimum for the serotonin sensitive component is 8.0. 2) The activating effect of serotonin on the ATPase, with a given concentration of sodium in the medium, is increased by raising the potassium concentration but the ratio of activity is decreased. 3) The activating effect of serotonin on the ATPase, with a given concentration of potassium in the medium, is increased by raising the sodium concentration but the ratio of activity is decreased. 4) The ATPase activity is increased by small amounts of calcium but inhibited by larger amounts and the ratio of activity by serotonin is decreased by small amounts of calcium but increased by larger amounts. 5) The action of serotonin on the ATPase activity was not related to the amino group of lysine, the hydroxyl group of threonine, the carboxyl group of aspartic acid, or the imidazole group of histidine. 6) The action of serotonin on the ATPase activity is due to sulfhydryl group of the enzyme of NaK ATPase.