The main purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between the consumption of red ginseng-based ‘SSR’ for 30 days and the reduction in human fatigue, blood component changes, and immune cell activity in 35 human subjects. ‘SSR’ is composed of zinc oxide, folic acid, and D-α-tocopherol with red ginseng as the main component. According to the protocol criteria of the study, 35 subjects who understood the purpose of the study and signed an informed consent form were selected. The fatigue survey was conducted through a questionnaire, and after taking ‘SSR', a decreased tendency of physical, mental, and neurosensory fatigue was observed. In hematological analysis, no significant changes were observed in the levels of WBC, RBC, and hemoglobin; however, AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) levels were statistically significantly decreased. In immunological analysis, it was observed that the proliferative effect of T cells (CD3+CD4+) was greater than that of NK cells (CD16+CD56+). The collected data were subjected to t-test analysis using the SPSS 25.0 statistical program. The result from this study proposes that ‘SSR’ can be used as a functional food material as it reduces human fatigue and enhances immune function.

Human β- defensin-2 (hBD-2) is an antimicrobial peptide which is produced by epithelial cells after stimulation with microorganisms or inflammatory mediators. However, little is known as to whether the LPS and nicotine induces the expression of hBD-2 in periodontal l igament (PDL) cells. T he p urpose o f this s tudy was t o investigate t he r oles o f MAPKs pathway o f nicotine a nd L PS-induced hBD-2 expression in PDL cells. The maximal expression of hBD-2 was observed in nicotine 5 mM and LPS 1 μg/ml treated PDL cells. Nicotine and LPS induced the phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 and 2 (JNK1/2), and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) MAPK. ERK1/2 inhibitor SB203580, p38 inhibitor PD98059, and JNK inhibitor SP600125, blocked the effects of nicotine and LPS on hBD-2 upregulation in PDL cells. These results collectively suggest that hBD-2 is up-regulated in nicotine and LPS-treated PDL cells through activation of p38, ERK and JNK MAPKs pathway. Our data regarding the up-regulation of hBD-2 may help us to understand the antimicrobial mechanism in periodontal disease

The present study aimed to verify the effects of DFO on PDL cells, with particular emphasis on focusing on osteoblastic differentiation. Its mechanisms related to heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway were also analyzed. DFO increased the expression of HO-1 and early osteoblastic differentiation markers, such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bone sialoprotein (BSP). DFO upregulated heme oxygenase-1. Treatment with HO-1 siRNA blocked the DFO-stimulated osteoblastic differentiation and HO-1 expression. The NF-kB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor Wortmannin, and p38 MAPK inhibitor U0126 blocked the effects of DFO on HO-1 expression and osteoblastic differentiation in PDL cells. Collectively, these data suggest that DFO promotes osteoblastic differentiation and induces the expression of defense protein HO-1 probably via PI3K, p38 MAPK, and NF-kB signalling pathways in PDL cells.

목분 충진제의 함량을 달리 하여 PE수지를 매트릭스로 하여 Wood Plastic Composites (WPC)를 제조하였다. 또한 매트릭스와 충진제간의 결합력을 증가시키기 위하여 커플링제를 사용하였으며, 보강재의 보강률과 커플링제 처리가 복합재의 기계적 물성에 미치는 영향과 계면현상을 관찰하였다. 커플링제로 MA를 사용하였을 경우에 tensile strength는 3wt%의 농도에서 25.91MPa의 최대값을 나타내었으며. MAOMS커플링제의 경우, 3wt%의 처리 농도에서 22.48MPa로 MA로 처리한 것보다 낮았다. 충격강도는 MA의 경우에는 3wt%일 때 44.38J/m의 최대값을 나타냈으며, MAOMS의 처리에서는 36.09J/m로 MA처리한 것보다 낮게 나타났다.