• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.431-437
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• 2014

Synthetic compounds that are used in the clinic to regulate skin hyperpigmentation, such as arbutin, hydroquinone, and kojic acid, are only moderately effective. But, their use is limited by side effects. As part of an effort to overcome the limitations, we developed resveratrol-enriched rice (RR) using genetic engineering technique. Each of resveratrol and rice has been reported to produce anti-melanogenic effects. Therefore, we hypothesized that RR would show more anti-melanogenic effects than those of resveratrol or rice alone. Anti-melanogenic effect of RR was done by using melan-a mouse melanocytes. The depigmenting efficacy was then observed following topical application of the RR to UVB-stimulated hyperpigmented dorsal skin of guinea pigs. Treatment with RR extract resulted a $21.4{\pm}0.7%$ decrease in tyrosinase expression at melan-a cells. Colorimetric analysis showed a significantly lower depigmenting value by day 9 following treatment with RR in UVB-irradiated guinea pigs the dorsal skin (p<0.01), indicating that RR produced a depigmentation effect. By staining with Fontana-Masson stain, we found that the RR-treated group had more effect histopathologically in epidermal melanin production than resveratrol or rice alone-treated group. RR was associated with reduction in the levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and downregulation of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein (TRP-2) expression, leading to inhibit epidermal melanin production by western blot analysis. This study suggests that the resveratrol-enriched rice may be a promising candidate in regulating skin pigmentation with UVB exposure.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2021

Objectives : Forsythiae Fructus has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects in many diseases, and Corydalis Tuber has been used as a pain suppressor in Eastern Asia. However, the protective effects of individual water extract of Forsythiae Fructus (FF) and Corydalis Tuber (CT) and the mixture of FF and CT (FC) on chronic pancreatitis (CP) were not well-investigated. Therefore, we investigated the protective effects of FF, CT, and FC on CP in mice. Methods : To induce CP, cerulein was injected 6 times a day, 4 times a week for 3 weeks. 1 h before the every cerulein injection, 200 mg/kg of FF, CT, or FC was intraperitoneally injected to mice. Histological analysis of pancreas was examined by hematoxylin and eosin stain and collagen deposition was examined by Masson's trichrome stain. Fibrogenic parameters such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and fibrotic cytokines such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were also analyzed by immunofluorescence stain and real-time PCR. Results : Histological damages in pancreas were inhibited by pre-treatment of FF or FC but not CT. α-SMA and ECM in pancreas were inhibited by pre-treatment of CT or FC but not FF. Moreover, the expression of TGF-β1 and PDGF in pancreas were inhibited by FF, CT or FC. Conclusions : Our results suggest that FC have protective effect on CP in mice through inhibition of α-SMA, ECM, TGF-β1 and PDGF in pancreas, and these findings could suggest new clinical strategy for CP.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.45-61
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of Carthami Flos herbal-acupuncture (CF-HA) at Joksamni($ST_{36}$) on arthritis in mice induced by Collagen II. Methods : The author performed several experimental items, including arthritis evaluation, change in weight, spleen size and stenosis rate, change in cytokine level, IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II, change of immunocyte count and histological change of the CIA mouse joint. Conclusions are as follows: Results : 1. In the CF-HA, the arthritis index and rate and the incidence of arthritis were decreased as the experiment proceeded. 2. In the CF-HA, spleen swell and stenosis, joint edema and change were decreased. 3. In the CF-HA, the level of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ in blood serum were significantly decreased. 4. In the CF-HA, the level of IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II were decreased. 5. In the CF- HA, $IFN-{\gamma}$, $IFN-{\gamma}/IL-4$, IL-10 of the culture fluid was decreased. 6. In the CF-HA, the cell rate of $CD3e^+$ and $CD45R^+$, $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$, $CD4^+/CD25^+$ in spleen was similar to the cell rate of the normal group. 7. In the CF-HA, the cell rate of $CD4^+/CD25^+$, $CD45R^+/CD69^+$ in a lymph node was decreased as in the normal group. 8. In the CF-HA, the cell rate of $CD3^+/CD69^+$, $CD11b^+/Gr-1^+$ in joints was decreased as in the normal group. 9. In the CF-HA, the cartilage destruction and the inflammation cell growth in the H&E stain were decreased. The collagen fiber in the M&T stain were less destructed, therefore the result was similar to the normal group. Conclusions : These results suggest that CH-HA at $ST_{36}$ has an effect in controlling immune reaction and suppressing inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis therefore, the continuous flow of the following study is expected.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 1991

An immunohistochemical study was performed to demonstrate comparative antigenicity of each body structure of the liver fluke, Clonorchis sinensis, such as the digestive tract, reproductive organs, excretory system, tegument and suckers. Indirect immunoperoxidase technique was applied, rising formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of C. sinensis as the antigen. Pooled cat sera obtained 10 weeks after an experimental infection with C. sinensis and peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-cat IgG were used as the primary and secondary antibodies, respectively. The intensity of immunohistochemical stain was very sensitive upon the titers of the primary and secondary antibodies, and their optimum dilutions were found to be 1:1,000∼1:2,000 and 1:1,000, respectively. The intestinal epithelial cells, intestinal content and excretory bladder showed strong positive coloring reactions even at lower titer (1 : 2,000) of the primary antibody, whereas the uterine wall and eggs, vitelline glands, and male reproductive organs showed only weak positive reactions despite an increase in the antibody titer (1:1,000). On the other hand, the suckers, tegument, subtegumental cells and other parenchyme portions did not reveal any positive immunoperoxidase reaction at the same antibody titers. From the above results, it is highly suggested that the most potent antigenicity of C. sinensis occur from their excretory-secretory substances originated from the digestive and excretory organs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.383-389
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• 2017

This study intends to analyze the contents of rutin, procyanidin B3, quercetin, kaempferol, known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects, among the polyphenol type contained in the grape pruning stem extracts (GPSE), utilizing grape stems being discarded after harvest, measure the effects on the skin moisture, inhibition of skin cell proliferation, anti-inflammatory on the damaged skin of a HR-1 mice induced with UVB, and verify the applicability as a material for functional food and functional cosmetics. The results of verifying the photoprotection effects through the skin proliferation control through of GPSE showed similar result to suncream was achieved at the GPSE concentration of 2,000 mg/kg on the epidermis (p<0.05). The results showed anti-inflammatory effects on all groups applied with GPSE as compared to the control group irradiated with UVB, but at the GPSE concentration of 1,000 mg/kg, a lower COX-2 protein expression at 8%, lower than the 22% of suncream, was observed to achieve an excellent anti-inflammatory effect (p<0.05). The results of this study confirmed the existence of active polyphenol type, such as rutin, kaempferol, querocetin and procyanidin B3, within the GPSE, and GPSE has improvement effects on moisturizing effects, skin proliferation control effect, inflammatory control effect and improvement effects on the skin barrier function through UV ray damage. GPSE is a functional ingredient with a potential for skin protection effects, and has high utilization as an ingredient for functional food and functional cosmetics.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2014

Five dogs were used to determine whether 0.1% tacrolimus ointment application for one day would inhibit IgE-mediated late-phase reactions (LPRs). It was consisted of three periods: one period without therapeutic administration (control) and two periods of treatment with either the tacrolimus ointment or vehicle. Induction of IgE-mediated LPRs was induced by intradermal injections of 0.05 ml (0.14 mg/ml) of solution of goat anti-canine IgE polyclonal antibodies. Each section for mast cells (MCs) and eosinophils (EPs) was stained with acidified toluidine blue, and Luna's stain, respectively. Assessment of anti-inflammatory effect of tacrolimus ointment composed of cell counts of MC and EP from lesions of induced LPR. In normal canine biopsies, the number of dermal MCs and EPs were $12.3{\pm}1.4cells/mm^2$ and $3.1{\pm}1.3cells/mm^2$, respectively. MC counts dramatically decreased at time dependent manner after anti-IgE administration. However, the number of MCs on 6 hours after challenge was significantly less decreased in the groups treated with the tacrolimus, as compared with control and vehicle group. The number of EPs on 24 hours after challenge was significantly lower in the group treated with the tacrolimus than in the control and vehicle groups. In conclusion, this study revealed that 0.1% tacrolimus ointment in dogs may exert a potent anti-inflammatory effect on inhibition of MC degranulation and also secondary prevention of EP infiltration during LPR.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.179-189
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• 2009

Objectives : Coptidis Rhizoma (Coptis japonica MAKINO; CR) is a well known crude drug as antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activity. However, there is no study of the effect of CR on brain infarction and it's mechanism. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects on ischemic stroke induced by photothrombotic infarction by evaluating the functional & neuronal recovery after brain infarction. Materials & Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g) were induced photothrombotic brain infarction on sensorimotor cortex, and brain infarction volume by image J software (NIH, USA) after Nissl stain, also single pellet reaching task as a functional motor recovery were observed. After orally pretreated by CR (500 mg/kg) or normal saline as a sham control before 7 days from the time of photothrombotic infarction, rats were sacrificed. After then we analysed anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, IL-1$\beta$), by RT-PCR and ELISA method, and immunohistochemistry (GFAP, connexin-43) as a marker of neural plasticity. Results : CR (100, 250, 500 mg/kg) decreased the infarction volume dose-dependently, however the effect of 500mg/kg of CR (CR 500) showed the best (P=0.051). Also, CR 500 decreased the infarction volume time-dependently, the most effective time was 3-7 days after stroke. Photothrombosis increased inflammatory cytokines after infarction, CR 500 suppressed significantly mRNA expression of IL-1$\beta$, IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$. In serum, CR 500 decreased the amount of IL-1$\beta$, 12h, 24h and 48h respectively (p < 0.05), also decreased that of IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$, 12h respectively (p < 0.05) after infarction. The more astrocytes were observed and neural plasticity was facilitated in the rat brain of CR 500 than that of sham control in immunohistochemistry. Conclusions : This results suggest that CR decrease infarction volume and improve functional motor recovery in acute stage in photothrombotic ischemic infarction model in the mechanism of anti-inflammation and promoting neural plasticity.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.297-313
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• 1999

The ultimate goal of periodontal treatment is the regeneration of periodontal tissues which have been lost due to periodontal disease. Recently, many natural medicines have been studied for their potential of anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects in periodontal tissues. Safflower seeds have been traditionally used as a drug for treatment of fracture and blood stasis in oriental medicine. The objective of the present study is to examine the biologic effects of safflower seeds extract on bone formation and regeneration of rat calvarial defects. The calvarial defects were made with 8mm trephine bur and extract of safflower seeds were placed directly at these defects. 24 rats were divided into control and experimental groups, and each group was sacrificed at 1 week, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. To study a histopathology related to bone regeneration, Goldner's Masson Trichrome stain and histomorphologic measuring was done at each weeks. In the early phase of bone healing, less inflammatory infiltration and capillary proliferation was found in experimental group compared to control. Dense bony tissues and matured bone structures in defect areas were found in experimental groups. And area of new bone formation was significantly increased at 8 weeks in experimental group. These results indicate that direct local application of safflower seeds extract reduces the early inflammatory response and promotes the regeneration of new bone in calvarial defects of rats.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.201-205
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• 2000

Objectives: Despite of high prevalence of tuberculosis in Korea, thyroid tuberculosis is very rare and only a few records are available. This study was carried out to evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics of thyroid tuberculosis and to find out optimal therapeutic strategies for these lesions. Materials & Methods: From Jan. 1986 to July. 2000, of 5,493 patients who were underwent thyroidectomy, only 8(0.14%) had discovered to have thyroid tuberculosis. The medical records of them were analyzed retrospectively. Results: There were one man and seven women with a mean age of 40.3 years. Only one had tuberculosis sequalae on chest X-ray and two had past history of tuberculous lymphadenitis. However, none of them had symptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis. Most frequent symptom was palpable neck mass. The preoperative U/S, CT and FNAB failed to diagnose thyroid tuberculosis. The pathologic reports were chronic granulomatous thyroiditis with caseous necrosis in all the cases and AFB stain was positve in 5 cases. All cases were successfully treated by surgical resection and anti-Tbc. medications. Conclusions: The incidence of thyroid tuberculosis was extremely low and most of them have been presented as a palpable neck mass especially in relatively young-aged female patients. Although any diagnosis for thyroid tuberculosis prior to microscopical study of tissue removed at operation was not yielded, the preoperative diagnostic workups will be available with experience. Surgical resection and anti- Tbc medication would be the choice in the management of thyroid tuberculosis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.606-612
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Several medicinal properties of Smilax china L. have been studied including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, the antiobesity activity and mechanism by which the water-soluble fraction of this plant mediates its effects are not clear. In the present study, we investigated the lipolytic actions of the water-soluble fraction of Smilax china L. leaf ethanol extract (wsSCLE) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. MATERIALS/METHODS: The wsSCLE was identified by measuring the total polyphenol and flavonoid content. The wsSCLE was evaluated for its effects on cell viability, lipid accumulation, glycerol, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) contents. In addition, western blot analysis was used to evaluate the effects on protein kinase A (PKA), PKA substrates (PKAs), and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL). For the lipid accumulation assay, 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with different doses of wsSCLE for 9 days starting 2 days post-confluence. In other cell experiments, mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated for 24 h with wsSCLE. RESULTS: Results showed that treatment with wsSCLE at 0.05, 0.1, and 0.25 mg/mL had no effect on cell morphology and viability. Without evidence of toxicity, wsSCLE treatment decreased lipid accumulation compared with the untreated adipocyte controls as shown by the lower absorbance of Oil Red O stain. The wsSCLE significantly induced glycerol release and cAMP production in mature 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, protein levels of phosphorylated PKA, PKAs, and HSL significantly increased following wsSCLE treatment. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that the potential antiobesity activity of wsSCLE is at least in part due to the stimulation of cAMP-PKA-HSL signaling. In addition, the wsSCLE-stimulated lipolysis induced by the signaling is mediated via activation of the ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor.