• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.25-53
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• 2017

The ultimate goal of this research is to examine the geographical characteristics of therapeutic spaces where have been appeared in Wa-dong and Gojan-dong, Ansan-si after the disaster of the MV Sewol. As looking into the inside, the aim of the therapeutic spaces, which cover each target group (victims) individually, is various and different because the disaster of the MV Sewol generated various direct and indirect victims requiring healing. The therapeutic spaces are estimated at about 10 organizations and are leaded by private agents predominantly. Furthermore, the therapeutic spaces are located near, but are aside from Danwon high school where many students are reported killed and injured in the incident. And the therapeutic spaces provide simple and repetitive diversions, for example, having a meal, knitting and studying, rather than special programs to restore a broken daily life to the original state. On the basis of such a background, the geographical characteristics of the therapeutic spaces related to the disaster of the MV Sewol can be summarized as follows; first, it seems that target groups accept the therapeutic spaces as the concept of place gradually. Even though most of the therapeutic spaces were suggested by third parties at first, target groups are involved in the management and recollection of their own therapeutic spaces as well as the plan for a future direction now; and consider the therapeutic spaces as exclusive properties. Second, the disaster of the MV Sewol have embedded collective trauma to not only direct victims, but extensive groups such as parents, brothers and sisters, relatives, friends and neighbors as noted earlier. Therefore, the therapeutic spaces support comprehensive target groups; but each therapeutic space is not overlapped each other. However, to solve collective trauma in a local community effectively, the therapeutic spaces are networked closely and build a regular cooperative system. Third, a continuous memory is mentioned as an important point to overcome collective trauma, but some phenomena such as fatigue and conflict with neighbors, out-migrants and a faded atmosphere as time passes act as risk factors in Ansan-si. To keep a continuous memory, the therapeutic spaces attempt the recovery of local communities and devise various events, for example, cultural performances; furthermore, are closely connected with external organizations.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.188-199
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• 2004

Transglutaminase 2 (TGase 2) is an enzyme that is widely used in many biological systems for generic tissue stabilization purposes or immediate defenses for wounds. Many reports have showed that TGase 2 is aberrantly activated in tissues and cells and contributes to a variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases and autoimmune diseases. In most cases, the TGase 2 appears to be a factor in the formation of inappropriate proteinaceous aggregates that may be cytotoxic. However, in other cases such as celiac disease, arthritis, lupus, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, TGase 2 is involved in the generation of autoantibodies. This suggests the possibility that the inappropriate expression and/or presentation of TGase 2 to T cells might contribute to these diseases in genetically predisposed individuals. Others and we have found that TGase 2 expression is also increased in the inflammation process. We also demonstrated reverse of inflammation by TGase inhibition. Furthermore we discovered the genuine role of TGase 2 in immune cell activation. Increase of TGase activity induces or exacerbates inflammation via NF-κB activation without I-κBα kinase signalings. This review will examine a possibility of TGase inhibitors as therapeutic agents in a variety of inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.261-268
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• 2013

The ginseng plant (Panax ginseng Meyer) has a large number of active ingredients including steroidal saponins with a dammarane skeleton as well as protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol, commonly known as ginsenosides, which have antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-adipocyte, and sexual enhancing effects. Though several discoveries have demonstrated that ginseng saponins (ginsenosides) as the most important therapeutic agent for the treatment of osteoporosis, yet the molecular mechanism of its active metabolites is unknown. In this review, we summarize the evidence supporting the therapeutic properties of ginsenosides both in vivo and in vitro, with an emphasis on the different molecular agents comprising receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B, and matrix metallopeptidase-9, as well as the bone morphogenetic protein-2 and Smad signaling pathways.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.284-289
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• 2020

Tamoxifen, a nonsteroidal estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist, is used routinely as a chemotherapeutic agent for ER-positive breast cancer. However, it is also causes side effects, including retinotoxicity. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has been recognized as the primary target of tamoxifen-induced retinotoxicity. The RPE plays an essential physiological role in the normal functioning of the retina. Nonetheless, potential therapeutic agents to prevent tamoxifen-induced retinotoxicity in breast cancer patients have not been investigated. Here, we evaluated the action mechanisms of sulfasalazine against tamoxifen-induced RPE cell death. Tamoxifen induced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated autophagic cell death and caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis in RPE cells. However, sulfasalazine reduced tamoxifen-induced total ROS and ROS-mediated autophagic RPE cell death. Also, mRNA levels of tamoxifen-induced pyroptosis-related genes, IL-1β, NLRP3, and procaspase-1, also decreased in the presence of sulfasalazine in RPE cells. Additionally, the mRNA levels of tamoxifen-induced AMD-related genes, such as complement factor I (CFI), complement factor H (CFH), apolipoprotein E (APOE), apolipoprotein J (APOJ), toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), were downregulated in RPE cells. Together, these data provide novel insight into the therapeutic effects of sulfasalazine against tamoxifen-induced RPE cell death.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48
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• pp.41-48
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• 2003

The number of natural products obtained from plants has now reached over 100,000 and new chemical compounds are being discovered ever year. Medicinal and Aromatic plants and their extracts have been used for centuries to relieve pain, aid healing, kill bacteria and insects are important as the antifungal and anti-herbivore agents with further compounds being involved in the symbiotic associations. Although their functions in plants have not been fully established, it is Known that some substances have growth regulatory properties while others are involved in pollination and seed dispersal. The complex nature of these chemicals are usually produced in various types of secretory structures which is an important character of a plant family and also influenced and controlled by genetic and ecological factors. Detailed anatomical description of these structures ave relevant to the market value of the plants, the verification of authenticity of a given species and for the detection of substitution or adulteration. Volatile oils are used for their therapeutic action for flavoring of lemon, in perfumery of rose or as starting materials for the synthesis of other compounds of turpentine. For therapeutic purposes they are administered as inhalations of eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, as gargles and mouthwashes of thymol and transdermally many essential oils including those of lavender, etc. With these current trend for using volatile components in essential oil will be increasing in the future in Korea and in the world as well.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1881-1891
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• 2004

Daejowhan-gamibang(DJG) is used to prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular disease, heart disease, dementia, hyperlipdemia circulatory disturbance. Korean traditional herbal prescriptions and herb medicines in neuronal cells, which have been used for the treatment of stroke and brain diseases in Korean traditional medicine were screened to study the antioxidant effects and its mechanism. Daejowhan-gamibang water extract(DJGWE) was tested on their antioxidant activity using radical scavenging effects against ABTS. It showed significant antioxidant capacities at 50㎍ concentration. The antioxidant activity of DJGWE was determined in the different concentration (10㎍, 50 ㎍, and 100㎍). At the same time, the antiperoxidation effects was determined. Lipid peroxidation in brain homogenates induced by NADPH and ADP-Fe/sup 2+/ was significantly inhibited by DJGWE in vitro. DJGWE showed a potent antioxidant and antiperoxidative activity, further investigation, in vitro and in vivo, will be needed for the confirm of possibility as an antioxidant therapeutic agents and their optimal treatment of brain diseases in human. In searching the mechanism of antioxidant effects of DJGWE, it showed the inhibition of activity of JNK, p38, ERK and caspase 3 induced by hypoxia. So, DJGWE should be surveyed for the use of the potential therapeutic prescription for stroke and brain degenerative diseases such as pakinson's disease, dementia.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.314-319
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• 2006

To determine the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory efficacy of Opuntia ficus-indica for chronic otitis, we evaluated the effects of topical applications of the methanol extracts with 20 cases of dogs which had chronic malignant otitis by pathogens with antibiotic resistance. The dogs had revealed recurrent symptoms of malignant otitis and were not treated by conventional therapeutic agents. However, in this study, the clinical cure rates of Opuntia ficus-indica was 75% and the average alleviation period was $1.21{\pm}0.42$ week, and the mean recovery period was $1.06{\pm}1.06$ week after the initiation of treatment. As the results of this study, topical Opuntia ficus-indica extracts was found to be highly effective for the treatment of chronic malignant otitis with clinical cure rates of 75% within 1.06 weeks of therapy. Further evaluation of Opuntia ficus-indica extracts will allow us to establish and to optimize the therapeutic strategy for the malignant otitis in veterinary practice, and the potential usefulness of this complementary treatment on recurrent infectious pathology.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2020

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common disease with a complex pathophysiology which significantly contributes to the development of chronic kidney disease and end stage kidney failure. Preventing AKI can consequently reduce mortality, morbidity, and healthcare burden. However, there are no effective drugs in use for either prevention or treatment of AKI. Developing therapeutic agents with pleiotropic effects covering multiple pathophysiological pathways are likely to be more effective in attenuating AKI. Fyn, a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, has been acknowledged to integrate multiple injurious stimuli in the kidney. Limited studies have shown increased Fyn transcription level and activation under experimental AKI. Activated Fyn kinase propagates various downstream signaling pathways associated to the progression of AKI, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, as well as autophagy dysfunction. The versatility of Fyn kinase in mediating various pathophysiological pathways suggests that its inhibition can be a potential strategy in attenuating AKI.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2018

Blastocystis is an enteric Straminopile in tropical, subtropical and developing countries. Metronidazole has been a chemotheraputic for blastocystosis. Failures in its regimens were reported and necessitate new studies searching for alternative therapeutic agents. Aim of current study is to investigate potential effects of Atorvastatin (AVA) compared to the conventional chemotherapeutic MTZ in experimentally Blastocystis-infected mice. Anti-Blastocystis efficacy of AVA was evaluated parasitologically, histopathologically and by transmission electron microscopy using MTZ (10 mg/kg) as a control. Therapeutic efficacy of AVA were apparently dose-dependent. Regimens of AVA (20 and 40 mg/kg) proved effective against Blastocystis infections with highreduction in Blastocystis shedding (93.4-97.9%) compared to MTZ (79.3%). The highest reductions (98.1% and 99.4%)were recorded in groups of combination treatments AVA 20-40 mg/kg and MTZ 10 mg/kg. Blastocystis was nearly eradicated by the 20th day post infection. Genotype analysis revealed that genotype I was most susceptible, genotype III was less. Histopathologic and ultrastructural studies revealed apoptotic changes in Blastocystis and significant improvement of intestinal histopathological changes more remarkable in combinational therapy groups. Thus, the present study offers AVA as a potential candidate for Blastocystis therapy combined with MTZ.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.155-160
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• 2002

A series of modified oligonucleotides containing a phosphorothioate (P=S) backbone and a six-membered azasugar (6-AZS) as a sugar substitute in a nucleotide were synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit the human immunodeficiency virus type I(HIV-l) in vitro without the aid of any transfecting agents. While P=S oligonucleotides with natural nucleotides had little anti-HIV-l activity, the six-membered azasugar nucleotide (6-AZN)-containing P=S oligonucleotides (AZPSONs) potently inhibited the HIV-l/SHIV replication and syncytium formation (ECso = 0.02-0.2 /lM) without cytotoxicity up to 100 /lM. DBM-2198, the most effective in anti-HIV-l activity among the AZPSONs, consists of random sequence and five 6¬AZNs evenly distributed in 18 nucleotides. DBM-2198 showed strong antiviral activity against, not only laboratory strains, but also primary isolates and even drug-resistant strains of HIV-I. DBM-2198 was much more effective than ddI or ddC in its anti-HIV-l activity in vitro. Particularly noteworthy is that the anti-HIV-l activity of DBM-2198 was better than that of AZT with respect to its long-lasting efficacy after a single treatment. Nevertheless, the antiviral activity of the AZPSONs was very specific to HIV-I. Poliovirus, or even simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), was not inhibited by the AZPSONs. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that AZPSON can be used as a safe and effective AIDS-therapeutic drug against a broad spectrum of HIV -1 strains.