• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.1017-1024
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• 2007

Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL-17), produced by keratinocytes, is a CC chemokine known to selectively Th2 type T cells via $CCR4^+$ and is implicated in the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). TARC/CCL17 expression was induced by cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$). We recently found that the wogonin, a flavone isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis, suppressed TARC expression via heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) in human keratinocytes induced with mite antigen. However, little is known about the inhibitory mechanism of wogonin on TARC/CCL-17 expression stimulated with cytokines. To investigate the inhibitory mechanism, I determined the inhibitory effects of wogonin on the activation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation, and also examined the activation of p38 MAP kainase in HaCaT keratinocytes stimulated with TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$. Wogonin inhibited NF-${\kappa}B$-DNA complex, NF-${\kappa}B$ binding activity, and the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ in a dose dependent manner. Wogonin also inhibited the translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ from cytosol to nucleus. Moreover, the phosphorylation of of p38 MAP kinase in the TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$-stimulated HaCaT keratinocytes were suppressed by wogonin in a dose dependent manner. These results suggest that wogonin may inhibit cytokine-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation by $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation via suppression of p38 MAP kinase signaling pathway in keratinocytes and modulation of wogonin signaling pathway may be beneficial for the treatment of AD.

• Journal of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.379-396
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• 2004

In this article, we study rotation surfaces in the 4-dimensional pseudo-Euclidean space E$_2$$^4$. Also, we obtain the complete classification theorems for the flat rotation surfaces with finite type Gauss map, pointwise 1-type Gauss map and an equation in terms of the mean curvature vector. In fact, we characterize the flat rotation surfaces of finite type immersion with the Gauss map and the mean curvature vector field, namely the Gauss map of finite type, pointwise 1-type Gauss map and some algebraic equations in terms of the Gauss map and the mean curvature vector field related to the Laplacian of the surfaces with respect to the induced metric.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.339-345
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• 2013

We investigated the antihypertensive effect of lutein on $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats. Daily oral administration of L-NAME (40 mg/kg)-induced a rapid progressive increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP). L-NAME significantly increased MAP from the first week compared to that in the control and reached $193.3{\pm}9.6$ mmHg at the end of treatment. MAP in the lutein groups was dose-dependently lower than that in the L-NAME group. Similar results were observed for systolic and diastolic blood pressure of L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. The control group showed little change in heart rate for 3 weeks, whereas L-NAME significantly reduced heart rate from $434{\pm}26$ to $376{\pm}33$ beats/min. Lutein (2 mg/kg) significantly prevented the reduced heart rate induced by L-NAME. L-NAME caused hypertrophy of heart and kidney, and increased plasma lipid peroxidation four-fold but significantly reduced plasma nitrite and glutathione concentrations, which were significantly prevented by lutein in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that lutein affords significant antihypertensive and antioxidant effects against L-NAME-induced hypertension in rats.

• Communications of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.507-517
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• 2004

Let (2,2,2,2) be ramification indices for the Riemann sphere. It is well known that the regular branched covering map corresponding to this, is the Weierstrass P function. Lattes [7] gives a rational function R(z)= ${\frac{z^4+{\frac{1}{2}}g2^{z}^2+{\frac{1}{16}}g{\frac{2}{2}}$ which is chaotic on ${\bar{C}}$ and is induced by the Weierstrass P function and the linear map L(z) = 2z on complex plane C. It is also known that there exist regular branched covering maps from $T^2$ onto ${\bar{C}}$ if and only if the ramification indices are (2,2,2,2), (2,4,4), (2,3,6) and (3,3,3), by the Riemann-Hurwitz formula. In this paper we will construct regular branched covering maps corresponding to the ramification indices (2,4,4), (2,3,6) and (3,3,3), as well as chaotic maps induced by these regular branched covering maps.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2019

Objectives: Angiotensin II (AngII), a major product of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has important role in induction of hypertension and antihypertensive effect of several medicinal plant was mediated by effect on this agent. Therefore, this study examined the possible effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Crocus sativus (C. sativus) on hypertension induced by AngII. Methods: Six groups (n = 6) of rats were used as follow: 1) Control, 2) AngII (300 ng/kg), 3) Losartan (Los, 10 mg/kg) + AngII and 4-6) C. sativus extract (10, 20 & 40 mg/kg,) + AngII. The femoral artery and vein were cannulated for recording cardiovascular parameters and drugs administration, respectively. All drugs were injected intravenously (i.v). Los and all doses of C. sativus injected 10 min before AngII. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded throughout the experiment and those peak changes (${\Delta}$) were calculated and compared to control and AngII. Results: AngII significantly increased ${\Delta}MAP$, ${\Delta}SBP$ and ${\Delta}HR$ than control (P < 0. 01 to P < 0.001) and these increments were significantly attenuated by Los. All doses of C. sativus significantly reduced peak ${\Delta}MAP$, ${\Delta}SBP$, and ${\Delta}HR$ than AngII group (P < 0. 05 to P < 0.001). In addition, peak ${\Delta}MAP$, ${\Delta}SBP$ in doses 10 and 20 were significant than Los + AngII group (P<0.05 to P< 0.01) but in dose 40 only MAP was significant (P<0.05). Peak ${\Delta}HR$ in all doses of C sativus was not significant than Los+ AngII. Conclusion: Regarding the improving effect of the C. sativus extract on AngII induced hypertension, it seems that this ameliorating effect partly mediated through inhibition of RAS.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.139-142
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• 2002

To examine intracellular signaling of human $S1P_3\;(hS1P_3),$ a sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor in plasma membrane, $hS1P_3$ DNA was transfected into RH7777 rat hepatoma cell line, and the inhibition of forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation and activation of MAP kinases by S1P were tested. In $hS1P_3$ transformants, S1P inhibited forskolin-induced activation of adenylyl cyclase activity by about 80% and activated MAP kinases in dose-dependent and pertussis-toxin (PTX) sensitive manners. In oocytes expressing $hS1P_3$ receptor, S1P evoked $Cl^-$ conductance. These data suggested that PTX-sensitive G proteins are involved in $hS1P_3-mediated$ signaling, especially the positive action of S1P in cell proliferation. The potential advantages of rat hepatoma cells for the research of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor are discussed.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.148.1-148.1
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• 2003

Ceramide is an important lipid messenger involved in mediating a variety of cell functions including apoptosis. Previously, we have shown that ceramide induces Bax translocation which is associated with cytochrome c release from the mitochondria. In this study, we show that p38 MAP kinase is involved in ceramide-induced Bax translocation. In human leukemic cells, ceramide stimulated the phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. Preincubation of cells with SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 inhibited DNA fragmentation induced by cell-permeable ceramide. (omitted)

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.391-401
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of electrical stimulation(EST) on MAP2(Microtubule Associated Protein 2) expression in cerebral cortex following sciatic nerve crush injury in rats. Twelve Sprague-Dawley adult female rats, six for control and six for experimental, were anesthetized and their sciatic nerves were crushed. The electrical stimulation (EST) was applicated with 3 Hz for 10 minuties in a day for muscles innervated sciatic nerve. The MAP2 expression in cerebral cortex was identified from immunohistochemistry against MAP2. The result of this study were as follow: 1) In control group, MAP2 immunoreactive neurons were observed but there no significant increase for 3 days. 2) MAP2 immunoreactive neurons were increased markably in experimental group than control group. 3) MAP2 immunoreactive neurons were increased markably after applicating with EST in sciatic nerve crush injury induced group from 2nd day. This study showed that the application of EST for muscles after sciatic nerve crushed injury made MAP2 immunoreactive neurons in the cerebral cortex increased. Therefore, the electrical stimulation on the peripheral site, denervated muscle, may facilitate MAP2 expression in the cerebral cortex.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.445-459
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• 2024

To model the aeroelasticity in vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) of slender tubular towers, this paper presents an approach where the aerodynamic damping distribution along the height of the structure is calculated not only as a function of the normalized lateral oscillation but also considering the local incoming wind velocity ratio to the critical velocity (velocity ratio). The three-dimensionality of aerodynamic damping depending on the tower's displacement and the velocity ratio has been observed in recent studies. A contour map model of aerodynamic damping is generated based on the forced vibration tests. A sectional calculation procedure based on the spectral method is developed by defining the aerodynamic damping locally at each increment of height. The proposed contour map model of aerodynamic damping and the sectional calculation procedure are validated with full-scale measurement data sets of a rotorless wind turbine tower, where good agreement between the prediction and measured values is obtained. The prediction of cross-wind response of the wind turbine tower is performed over a range of wind speeds which allows the estimation of resulting fatigue damage. The proposed model gives more realistic prediction in comparison to the approach included in current standards.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.265-276
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• 1998

In an attempt to evaluate the function of MAP kinase of porcine oocytes and to develop a method of assessment for kinase activity, we used MBP as a substrate to detect the MAP kinase activity of porcine oocytes matured in in vitro. The MAP kinase which had lower activity during the first 20 hours of culture started to show an increased amount of activity at 25 hours at which a collapse in nuclear membrane was induced. Significant (P<0.05) a, pp.ared at 30 hours of being cultured. The gel phosphorylation method, MBP which has been known to be a substrate for kinase such as cdc2 kinase, was phosphorylated at two positions corresponding to ERK 1 (44kDa) and ERK2 (42 kDa) which are known as mammalian MAP kinase. The existence of MARKK and MAP kinase were identified with western blotting at 0 hour culture of immature GV oocytes. The amount of those proteins did not increase during 40 hours of culture, which suggest that the increase of MAP kinase activity was caused by phosphorylaton rather than due to change in protein amount. MAPKK and MAP kinase were shown to be dephosporylated with deactivated at M 1 stage by inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide added at the strat following the cultrue. We have reulsts that indicate the existedence of MAP kinase cascade which was activated simultaneously with start of porcine oocyte maturation (GVBD).