• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2019

Fat accumulation in adipocytes occurs through the process of adipogenesis in which preadipocytes differentiate into adipocytes. Obesity is a metabolic disorder caused by excessive accumulation of fat in the body, which increases the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and various cancers. Recently, inhibition of adipocyte differentiation was shown to be a potential antiobesity strategy. In this study, the inhibitory effect of dichloromethane fractions from Illicium verum Hooker fil. water extract on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to adipocytes was investigated. Dichloromethane fractions from I. verum Hooker fil. significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation when applied during the adipocyte differentiation process, as assessed by measuring fat accumulation using Oil-red O staining. In addition, dichloromethane fractions from I. verum Hooker fil. reduced important adipogenic transcription factors, such as CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$). The expression of FAS and LPL, which are terminal differentiation markers of mature adipocytes, was also reduced in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with dichloromethane fractions from I. verum Hooker fil. In addition, the treatment significantly inhibited mitotic clonal expansion, which is essential for adipocyte differentiation, by arresting the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Taken together, these results suggest that dichloromethane fractions from I. verum Hooker fil. may be a natural material with antiobesity effects.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.9
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• pp.672-685
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• 2019

Currently, liver transplantation is the only available remedy for patients with end-stage liver disease. Conservation of transplanted liver graft is the most important issue as it directly related to patient survival. Carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1) protects cells against oxidative stress and cell death by inactivating cellular membrane-derived lipid aldehydes. Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury during living-donor liver transplantation is known to form reactive oxygen species. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate whether CBR1 transcription might be increased during liver I/R injury and whether such increase might protect liver against I/R injury. Our results revealed that transcription factor Nrf2 could induce CBR1 transcription in liver of mice during I/R. Pre-treatment with sulforaphane, an activator of Nrf2, increased CBR1 expression, decreased liver enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase, and reduced I/R-related pathological changes. Using oxygen-glucose deprivation and recovery model of human normal liver cell line, it was found that oxidative stress markers and lipid peroxidation products were significantly lowered in cells overexpressing CBR1. Conversely, CBR1 knockdown cells expressed elevated levels of oxidative stress proteins compared to the parental cell line. We also observed that Nrf2 and CBR1 were overexpressed during liver transplantation in clinical samples. These results suggest that CBR1 expression during liver I/R injury is regulated by transcription factor Nrf2. In addition, CBR1 can reduce free radicals and prevent lipid peroxidation. Taken together, CBR1 induction might be a therapeutic strategy for relieving liver I/R injury during liver transplantation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Neurocognitive Rehabilitation
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.27-34
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of task training for cognitive activation of upper extremity on upper limb function and activities of daily living and to suggest intervention in rehabilitation treatment. From January to February of 2018, nine stroke patients were arbitrated 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for four weeks. For the experimental group, the therapist has induced the group using the linguistic guidance to patients, so they utilize the cognition strategy. The control group conducted active exercises in a range of motion using the instruments and passive exercises in a range of motion to reduce the stiffness of joints and upper limbs. As muscle strengthening exercises, the patients were assigned to work on the biceps muscle of arm, triceps muscle of arm, and deltoid according to the individual patient's muscular strength level. For the experimental group, the MBI was improved by ten points at maximum, and K-AMPS motor skills showed the improvements of 1.0 logit at maximum, and processing skills showed improvements of 0.6 logits at maximum. In MFT, the maximum improvement was by two points. For the control group, MBI was improved by five points at maximum, and 0.2 maximum improvements were shown in K-AMPS' motor skills and 0.3 maximum improvements in processing skills. MFT showed no change. The conclusion is that the challenges to enable training for stroke patients give a positive impact on upper limb function and activities of daily living.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.403-413
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• 2020

A mathematical model comprised with eight simultaneous quasi-linear partial differential equations was suggested to provide optimal chlorination strategy. Upstream weighted finite element method was employed to construct multidimensional numerical code. The code was verified against measured concentrations in three type of reactors. Boundary conditions and reaction rate were calibrated for the sixteen cases of experimental results to regenerate the measured values. Eight reaction rate coefficients were estimated from the modeling result. The reaction rate coefficients were expressed in terms of pH and temperature. Automatic optimal algorithm was invented to estimate the reaction rate coefficients by minimizing the sum of squares of the numerical errors and combined with the model. In order to minimize the concentration of chlorine and pollutants at the final usage sites, a real-time predictive control system is imperative which can predict the water quality variables from the chlorine disinfection process at the water purification plant to the customer by means of a model and operate the disinfection process according to the influent water quality. This model can be used to build such a system in water treatment plants.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.38-49
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• 2021

Airway mucus secretion is an essential innate immune response for host protection. However, overproduction and hypersecretion of mucus, mainly composed of the gel-forming MUC5AC protein, are significant risk factors for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway negatively regulates MUC5AC expression; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we showed that TGFβ significantly reduces the expression of MUC5AC mRNA and its protein in NCI-H292 cells, a human mucoepidermoid carcinoma cell line. This reduced MUC5AC expression was restored by a TGFβ receptor inhibitor (SB431542), but not by the inhibition of NF-κB (BAY11-7082 or Triptolide) or PI3K (LY294002) activities. TGFβ-activated Smad3 dose-dependently bound to MUC5AC promoter. Notably, TGFβ-activated Smad3 recruited HDAC2 and facilitated nuclear translocation of HDAC2, thereby inducing the deacetylation of NF-κB at K310, which is essential for a reduction in NF-κB transcriptional activity. Both TGFβ-induced nuclear translocation of Smad3/HDAC2 and deacetylation of NF-κB at K310 were suppressed by a Smad3 inhibitor (SIS3). These results suggest that the TGFβ-activated Smad3/HDAC2 complex is an essential negative regulator for MUC5AC expression and an epigenetic regulator for NF-κB acetylation. Therefore, these results collectively suggest that modulation of the TGFβ1/Smad3/HDAC2/NF-κB pathway axis can be a promising way to improve lung function as a treatment strategy for asthma and COPD.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.667-675
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• 2021

Streptococcus agalactiae is an important bacterial pathogen and causative agent of diseases including neonatal sepsis and meningitis, as well as infections in healthy adults and pregnant women. Although antibiotic treatments effectively relieve symptoms, the emergence and transmission of multidrug-resistant strains indicate the need for an effective immunotherapy. Effector T helper (Th) 17 cells are a relatively newly discovered subpopulation of helper CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, and which, by expressing interleukin (IL)-17A, play crucial roles in host defenses against a variety of pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. However, whether S. agalactiae infection can induce the differentiation of CD4⁺ T cells into Th17 cells, and whether IL-17A can play an effective role against S. agalactiae infections, are still unclear. In this study, we analyzed the responses of CD4⁺ T cells and their defensive effects after S. agalactiae infection. The results showed that S. agalactiae infection induces not only the formation of Th1 cells expressing interferon (IFN)-γ, but also the differentiation of mouse splenic CD4⁺ T cells into Th17 cells, which highly express IL-17A. In addition, the bacterial load of S. agalactiae was significantly increased and decreased in organs as determined by antibody neutralization and IL-17A addition experiments, respectively. The results confirmed that IL-17A is required by the host to defend against S. agalactiae and that it plays an important role in effectively eliminating S. agalactiae. Our findings therefore prompt us to adopt effective methods to regulate the expression of IL-17A as a potent strategy for the prevention and treatment of S. agalactiae infection.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.325-333
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• 2021

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders. Enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis by promoting proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) is a promising therapeutic strategy for AD. 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) and oleanolic acid (OA) are small, bioactive compounds found in ginseng that can promote NSC proliferation and neural differentiation in vitro. However, it is currently unknown whether PPD or OA can attenuate cognitive deficits by enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis in vivo in a transgenic APP/PS1 AD mouse model. Here, we administered PPD or OA to APP/PS1 mice and monitored the effects on cognition and hippocampal neurogenesis. Methods: We used the Morris water maze, Y maze, and open field tests to compare the cognitive capacities of treated and untreated APP/PS1 mice. We investigated hippocampal neurogenesis using Nissl staining and BrdU/NeuN double labeling. NSC proliferation was quantified by Sox2 labeling of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. We used western blotting to determine the effects of PPD and OA on Wnt/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway activation in the hippocampus. Results: Both PPD and OA significantly ameliorated the cognitive impairments observed in untreated APP/PS1 mice. Furthermore, PPD and OA significantly promoted hippocampal neurogenesis and NSC proliferation. At the mechanistic level, PPD and OA treatments resulted in Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway activation in the hippocampus. Conclusion: PPD and OA ameliorate cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice by enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis, achieved by stimulating the Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway. As such, PPD and OA are promising novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.791-803
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• 2021

To improve the oral health level of North Korean defectors, it is necessary to improve awareness of oral health care along with treatment of oral diseases. The purpose of this study is to develop an oral health education program that can be applied to North Korean defectors who have settled in local communities. To develop the program, three steps were taken: literature review, in-depth interview with experts, and program development applying the Dick&Carey model. As a result of in-depth expert interviews, what should be considered in oral health education for North Korean defectors is the need to understand North Korean defectors in advance, to familiarize themselves with the daily language of North Korea, to develop a synchronization strategy suitable for North Korean defectors, and to connect with whole body health. It was found that there was a need to establish the contents of education and to seek realistic education methods that reflect the characteristics of local communities. As a result of developing the program, fifty learning goals were developed, and ten sessions were planned. The oral health education program for North Korean defectors developed in this study will be of practical help to dental hygienists planning oral health education for North Korean defectors in the future and North Korean defectors.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.76-93
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• 2020

Purpose: In this study, the general characteristics of subjects who spent more than a certain amount of cost for general medical examination at the general hospital health promotion center, and the characteristics of disease, family history, and lifestyle (smoking, alcohol, physical activity, oral care) significantly differed in cost expenditure. We intend to provide basic data for establishing an appropriate marketing strategy for comprehensive examination. Method: It was conducted for users who received comprehensive checkups at a health promotion center at a general hospital in Seoul. The research data collection period is for 979 people who performed comprehensive examinations from January 2019 to December 2020. In order to carry out a comprehensive examination, a questionnaire before the examination was distributed to the subjects who visited the hospital to prepare, and the investigation was conducted in a way that the subjects of the investigation directly filled in. Results: There was a significant influence on the difference in expenditure for comprehensive examination according to the gender, age, and type of health insurance of the subject. In addition, there were significant differences in expenditure according to the presence or absence of disease and the type of family history. Weight loss, smoking history, smoking period, smoking frequency, drinking history, and drinking frequency all had significant effects on cost expenditure. Also, strength training and oral treatment management showed a significant effect on the cost of comprehensive examination. The number of flossing and interdental brushing was also found to have a significant effect. According to the results of multiple regression analysis, disease history (t=2.683, p<.01) and mean smoking frequency (t=4.315, p<.001) appeared to have the most significant effect on expenditure statistically. In other words, when the subject has a history of disease and when the average number of smoking is large, it means that the comprehensive examination cost is remarkably large. Conclusion: By using these contents, hospitals can further refine the marketing of the examination center. In addition, a more convenient and specialized process should be used by patients by linking the general medical department and the examination center well. In terms of management of operating medical institutions, this can be expected to create patients and increase profits.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.197-202
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• 2022

Gender neutral draft is the system that the level of manpower which military demands right now can be kept and the concept of gender equality can enlarge itself. This thesis draws implications on the necessity of optional review of draft and the amelioration of military organizational culture for the military through the example of Norway that has adopted gender neutral draft initially in Europe. The Military that is characterized by traditionally male led domain accelerates itself the openness to female by the aggrandizement of social participation and the improvement of human right for female. The various concerns about a necessary facilities, the period ofmilitary service, the level of salary, the keeping of combat power, etc just should be overcome in order to enlarge conscription to female in Korea. Situations such as the environment of national security, the level of social participation to female, the treatment to minority are different, so it is difficult for us to draw any conclusion whether the adoption of sex neutral conscription is right or not. Nonetheless, the national strategy that prepares for future may not be concluded easily and we can not stop it even though it is discomfortable truth. In Conclusion, we anticipate that the sound discourse on measures of including female in draft will be continued from the start with this thesis.