• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.185-200
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• 2005

Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the asthma-suppressive and immune-regulatory effect of AHCR-HA(ASARI HERBA CUM RADICE Herbal-acupuncture) at Pyesu(BLl3) on OVA(ovalbumin)-induced asthma in mice. Methods : C57BL/6 mice out of all the experimental groups, except the Normal group and the AHCR-HA group, were sensitized and challenged with OVA The mice in the AHCR-HA group and the OVA-AHCR-HA group were treated with AHCR-HA(1%) at Pyesu(BL13). The mice in the OVA-Saline group were injected with saline at Pyesu(BL13). The mice in the OVA-Needle-Prick group were treated with a single prick with an injection needle at Pyesu(BL13). AHCR-HA saline injection and needle prick were administered for 8 weeks, three times a week. Result : 1. The populations of granulocytes, CD3e-/CCR3+ cells, CD69+/CD3e+ cells, CD4+ cells and CD23+/B220+ cells in the OVA-induced asthmatic mouse lungs decreased significantly by AHCR-HA. 2. The lung weight, total cells in lung, total leukocytes in BALF, eosinophils in BALF, collagen accumulation in the lung sections of the OVA-AHCR-HA group decreased significantly. 3.The concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IgE in BALF and serum of the OVA-AHCR-HA group decreased significantly. 4. The numbers of Gr-1+/CD11b+, CCR3+, CD3e+, CD19+, CD3e+/CD69+cells in the OVA-AHCR-HA group decreased significantly. 5. The mRAN expressions of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-5, IL-4 and IL-13 in lung of the OVA-AHCR-HA group decreased significantly. 6. The AHCR-HA group didn't show any considerable difference from the Normal group. The OVA-saline group and the OVA-Needle prick group showed suppressive effects on OVA-induced asthma however they were not statistically significant. Conclusion : These results suggest that AHCR-HA at Pyesu(BL13) is considered to be effective in treating asthma and to be put to practical use in the future asthma clinic.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2000

This study was performed to elucidate the effects of antler, red ginseng, safflower seed, ipriflavone and estrogen on ovariectomized rats. The rats were fed with Ca and P deficient diet for five weeks to induce osteoporosis. After this period, these animals were fed with normal feed and treated every other day with antler(600 mg/kg, p.o), red ginseng(200 mg/kg, p.o), safflower(200 mg/kg, p.o), ipriflavone(80 mg/kg, p.o) and estrogene(400$\mu\textrm{g}$/kg, i.m) for 5 weeks. During the treatment, the rats were examined for serum concentrations of estradiol, calcitonin, Ca, p and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activities. The results are summarized as follows 1. The levels of serum 17 $\beta$-estradiol after five weeks of treatment were showed 39.6$\pm$3.0 pg/ml by antler, 33.2$\pm$2.5pg/ml by red ginseng, 34.9$\pm$2.4pg/ml by safflower, 28.1$\pm$3.1 pg/ml by ipriflavone and 40.6$\pm$3.0pg/ml by estrogen-treated group. They were lower than 50.8$\pm$3.1pg/ml of normal control group which had not received ovariectomy. They, however, were significantly higher than 26.8$\pm$1.8pg/ml of ovariectomized non-treatment group(p<0.05). 2. The levels of serum calcitonin after five weeks of treatment were showed 0.60$\pm$0.02 ng/ml by antler, 0.55$\pm$0.04ng/ml by red ginseng, 0.59$\pm$0.02ng/ml by safflower, 0.56$\pm$0.04ng/ml by ipriflavone and 0.62$\pm$0.02ng/ml by estrogen-treated group. They were lower than 0.67$\pm$0.03pg/ml of normal control group. However, they were significantly higher than 0.45$\pm$0.05ng/ml of ovariectomized non-treatment group(p<0.05). 3. The levels of serum Ca of the rats after five weeks of treatment with antler, red ginseng, safflower, ipriflavone and estrogen were 23.51$\pm$2.19$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$, 25.22$\pm$3.44$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$, 23.20$\pm$0.02$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$, 24.76$\pm$3.57$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$, 23.07$\pm$3.66$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$, respectively. They were a bit higher than 21.43$\pm$2.22$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ of normal control group. And non-treatment group showed 26.12$\pm$0.29$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ which was significantly higher than that of control group(P<0.05). 4. The serum P concentraions after five weeks of treatment were showed 12.11$\pm$2.14$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ by antler, 13.18$\pm$1.64u91m4 by red ginseng, 12.67 $\pm$2.31$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ by safflower, 12.38$\pm$2.07$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ by ipriflavone, 11.86$\pm$1.93$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ by estrogen-treated group. They were a bit higher than 11.29$\pm$1.23$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ of normal control group. And non-treatment group showed 13.42$\pm$1.87$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ which was higher than that of control group but not significant. 5. The levels of serum ALP after five weeks of treatment were showed 164.8$\pm$3.8IU/ml by antler, 277.7$\pm$4.8IU/ml by red ginseng, 288.5$\pm$4.5IU/ml by safflower, 214.7$\pm$5.7IU/ml by ipriflavone and 159.4$\pm$5.4IU/ml by estrogen-treated group. They were significantly higher than 144.1$\pm$3.5IU/ml of normal control group(p<0.05). However, they were significantly lower than 336.9 $\pm$12.7IU/ml of ovariectomized non-treatment group(p<0.05). Antler and safflower elevated serum estradiol and calcitonin, and decreased serum ALP significantly. Therefore they were thought to have therapeutic effect on osteoposis by making inhibitory effect on osteoclasts rather than activating osteoblasts.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.199-218
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• 2005

Purpose of Study: Peripheral nerve regeneration depends on neurotrophism of distal nerve stump, recovery potential of neuron, supporting cell like Schwann cell and neurotrophic factors such as BDNF. Peripheral nerve regeneration can be enhanced by the conduit which connects the both sides of transected nerve. The conduit maintains the effects of neurotrophism and BDNF produced by Schwann cells which can be made by gene therapy. In this study, we tried to enhance the peripheral nerve regeneration by using calcium phosphate coated porous conduit and BDNF-Adenovirus infected Schwann cells in sciatic nerve of rats. Materials and Methods: Microporous filter which permits the tissue fluid essential for nerve regeneration and does not permit infiltration of fibroblasts, was made into 2mm diameter and 17mm length conduit. Then it was coated with calcium phosphate to improve the Schwann cell adhesion and survival. The coated filter was evaluated by SEM examination and MTT assay. For effective allogenic Schwann cell culture, dorsal root ganglia of 1-day old rat were extracted and treated with enzyme and antimitotic Ara-C. Human BDNF cDNA was obtained from cDNA library and amplified using PCR. BDNF gene was inserted into adenovirus shuttle vector pAACCMVpARS in which E1 was deleted. We infected the BDNF-Ad into 293 human mammary kidney cell-line and obtained the virus plaque 2 days later. RT-PCR was performed to evaluate the secretion of BDNF in infected Schwann cells. To determine the most optimal m.o.i of BDNF-Ad, we infected the Schwann cells with LacZ adenovirus in 1, 20, 50, 75, 100, 250 m.o.i for 2 hours and stained with ${\beta}$-galactosidase. Rats(n=24) weighing around 300g were used. Total 14mm sciatic nerve defect was made and connected with calcium phosphate coated conduits. Schwann cells$(1{\times}10^6)$ or BDNF-Ad infected Schwann cells$(1{\times}10^6)$ were injected in conduit and only media(MEM) was injected in control group. Twelve weeks after surgery, degree of nerve regeneration was evaluated with gait analysis, electrophysiologic measurements and histomorphometric analysis. Results: 1. Microporous Millipore filter was effective conduit which permitted the adhesion of Schwann cells and inhibited the adhesion of fibroblast. We could enhance the Schwann cell adhesion and survival by coating Millipore filter with calcium phosphate. 2. Schwann cell culture technique using repeated treatment of Ara-C and GDNF was established. The mean number of Schwann cells obtained 1 and 2 weeks after the culture were $1.54{\pm}4.0{\times}10^6$ and $9.66{\pm}9.6{\times}10^6$. 3. The mRNA of BDNF in BDNF-Ad infected Schwann cells was detected using RT-PCR. In Schwann cell $0.69\;{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ of DNA was detected and in BDNF-Adenovirus transfected Schwann cell $0.795\;{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ of DNA was detected. The most effective infection concentration was determined by LacZ Adenovirus and 75 m.o.i was found the most optimal. Conclusion: BDNF-Ad transfected Schwann cells successfully regenerated the 14mm nerve gap which was connected with calcium phosphate coated Millipore filter. The BDNF-Ad group showed better results compared with Schwann cells only group and control group in aspect to sciatic function index, electrophysiologic measurements and histomorphometric analysis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1188-1198
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• 1998

Background : The purpose of the present study was to determine the protective effect of antiasthmatic activity of inhaled heparin, cromolyn sodium, budesonide, furosemide in exercise-induced asthma(EIA). The other important considerable point of this study was the mechanism of bronchoconstriction on EIA. Methods : Eight subjects with a history of EIA were studied on 5 different experiment days. After obtaining baseline $FEV_1$ and FVC, subjects performed a standardized exercise challenge. EIA was assessed by measurement of $FEV_1$ before and after exercise. On experiment day 4, the exercise challenge was performed after the subjects inhaled either heparin (1,000 units/kg/day for 5 days), furosemide (1mg/kg for 5 days), cromolyn (4mg/day for 5 days), or budesonide ($400{\mu}g/day$ for 5 days). On experiment day 5, the methacholine bronchial provocation test was performed. On experiment day 3, activated partial thromboplastine time(aPTI) was checked. Results : Maximum decrements of $FEV_1$ (mean${\pm}$SE) among 0 to 120 minutes after exercise were as follows : heparin was $83.1{\pm}4.81%$ (p=0.010), furosemide was $80.5{\pm}6.87%$ (p=0.071), cromolyn was $86.8{\pm}6.53%$ (p=0.340), and budesonide was $79.4{\pm}7.31%$ (p=0.095). Above medications were compared to the control value ($72.5{\pm}18.2%$) by paired t-test. No medications had effect on $PD_{20}$ of methacholine bronchial provocation test The results were control $1.58{\pm}0.49{\mu}mol$), heparin ($4.17{\pm}1.96{\mu}mol$), furosemide ($1.85{\pm}0.86{\mu}mol$), cromolyn ($2.19{\pm}0.89{\mu}mol$), and budesonide ($3.38{\pm}1.77{\mu}mol$), respectively(p>0.05). The inhaled heparin had no effect of anticoagulation. Conclusion : These data demonstrate that inhaled heparin has a protective effect on EIA. The effect of inhaled cromolyn was statistically absent with manufacture's recommended dosage on EIA. So, the dosage of cromolyn should be carefully evaluated in future. Although inhalation of budesonide and furosemide have no statistical significance compared to control, these drugs also have some protective effects on EIA.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.546-557
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• 2000

Background : Oligonucleotide chip technology has proven to be a very useful tool in the rapid diagnosis of infectious disease. Rifampin resistance is considered as a useful marker of multidrug-resistance in tuberculosis. Mutations in the rpoB gene coding $\beta$ subunit of RNA polymerase represent the main mechanism of rifampin resistance. The purpose of this study was to develop a diagnosis kit using oligonucleotide chip for the rapid and accurate detection of rifampin-resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Method : The sequence specific probes for mutations in the rpoB gene were designed and spotted onto the glass slide, oligonucleotide chip. 38 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium were tested. A part of rpoB was amplified, labelled, and hybridized on the oligonucleotide chip with probes. Results were analyzed with a laser scanner. Direct sequencing was done to verify the results. Result : The low-density oligonucleotide chip design어 to determine the specific mutations in the rpoB gene of M. tuberculosis accurately detected rifampin resistance associated with mutations in 28 clinical isolates. Mutations at codons 531, 526, and 513 were confirmed by direct sequencing analysis. Conclusion : Mutant detection using oligonucleotide chip technology is a reliable and useful diagnostic tool for the detection of multidrug-resistance in M. tuberculosis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 1976

In order to estimate sawmill productivities, rates of technical change and optimum combination of production factors, Cobb-Douglas production functions have been derived using data obtained from 96 sample mills in Busan-Incheon, southwestern and northeastern areas. The results may be summarized as follows: 1. There is a tendency of expanding average sawmill size in the areas. The horse-power holdings per mill have been increased at the rates of 91 percent in Busan-Incheon, 7.7 percent in southwestern and 16.9 percent in northeastern areas. This implies that the mills around log-importing ports have made rapid development, compared with those in forest regions. 2. The regression coefficients (production elasticities) of the functions for the year of 1967 in the above three areas are much similar each other, but significant differencies are found in the production functions of 1975. In other words, sawmill productivity was mainly restricted by capital deficiencies in all areas in 1967, but this situation was succeeded only by N-E area in 1975. The range of sum of regression coefficients is 1.0437-1.4214, this indicates increasing rates of return to scale. 3. The annual rates of technical changes in B-I, S-W and N-E areas for the observed period are 17.6, 7.6 and 2.2 percents respectively. Busan-Incheon is the only area where labor productivity is higher than that of capital. 4. The best combination of production factors for maximizing firm's profit is subject to the changes of input and output prices. With some assumptions of prices and costs, the optimum levels of power and labor input in B-I, S-W and N-E areas are 57:17, 427:94 and 192:27.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.269-275
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• 2008

The avocado is a widely grown and consumed fruit that is high in nutrients and low in calories, sodium, and fats. In this study, antioxidant activities and induction of apoptosis by methanol extracts from sarcocarp, seed and peel of avocado were investigated in vitro. Contents of total polyphenols in methanol extracts from sarcocarp, seed and peel were 13.89, 137.12 and $223.45{\mu}g/mg$ respectively. Radical-scavenging activities of the methanol extracts were examined by using ${\alpha},{\alpha}$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. The methanol extracts from the peel of avocado showed higher scavenging activities against DPPH, ABTS than those from sarcocarp and seed. Apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells mediated by the methanol extracts of avocado was associated with the increase of activation of caspase-3 and caspase-3 target protein, PARP. Therefore, with more researches on identification and action mechanism of active compounds, the methanol extracts from peel and seed of avocado is expected to be a natural source for the developments of functional food and medical agents to prevent human breast cancer.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.91-117
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• 2007

This study was to compare the contents and practical problems addressed, the process of teaching-learning method, and evaluation method of Korean Home Economics curriculum and of the Oregon and Ohio's Practical Problem Focused Family & Consumer Sciences Curricula. The results are as follows. First, contents of Korean curriculum are organized by major sub-concepts of Home Economics academic discipline whereas curricular of both Oregon and Ohio states are organized by practical problems. Oregon uses the practical problems which integrate multi-subjects and Ohio uses ones which are good for the contents of the module by integrating concerns or interests which are lower or detailed level (related interests). Since it differentiates interest and module and used them based on the basic concept of Family and Consumer Science, Ohio's approach could be easier for Korean teachers and students to adopt. Second, the teaching-learning process in Korean home economics classroom is mostly teacher-centered which hinders students to develop higher order thinking skills. It is recommended to use student-centered learning activities. State of Oregon and Ohio's teaching-learning process brings up the ability of problem-solving by letting students clearly analyze practical problems proposed, solve problems by themselves through group discussions and various activities, and apply what they learn to other problems. Third, Korean evaluation system is heavily rely on summative evaluation such as written tests. It is highly recommended to facilitate various performance assessment tools. Since state of Oregon and Ohio both use practical problems, they evaluate students mainly based on their activity rather than written tests. The tools for evaluation include project documents, reports of learning activity, self-evaluation, evaluation of discussion activity, peer evaluation in a group for each students for their performance, assessment about module, and written tests as well.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2007.12a
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• pp.57-58
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• 2007

Purpose: Ginseng is a well-known medical plant used in traditional Oriental medicine. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been known to have potent biological activities such as radical scavenging, vasodilating, anti-tumor and anti-diabetic activities. However, the mechanism of the beneficial effects of KRG on diabetes is yet to be elucidated. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effect and mechanism of KRG extract in C57BL/KsJ db/db mice. Methods: The db/db mice were randomly divided into six groups: diabetic control group (DC), red ginseng extract low dose group (RGL, 100 mg/kg), red ginseng extract high dose group (RGH, 200 mg/kg), metformin group (MET, 300 mg/kg), glipizide group (GPZ, 15 mg/kg) and pioglitazone group (PIO, 30 mg/kg), and treated with drugs once per day for 10 weeks. During the experiment, body weight and blood glucose levels were measured once every week. At the end of treatment, we measured Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood glucose, insulin, triglyceride (TG), adiponectin, leptin, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA). Morphological analyses of liver, pancreas and white adipose tissue were done by histological observation through hematoxylin-eosin staining. Pancreatic islet insulin and glucagon levels were detected by double-immunofluorescence staining. To elucidate an action of mechanism of KRG, DNA microarray analyses were performed, and western blot and RT-PCR were conducted for validation. Results: Compared to the DC group mice, body weight gain of PIO treated group mice showed 15.2% increase, but the other group mice did not showed significant differences. Compared to the DC group, fasting blood glucose levels were decreased by 19.8% in RGL, 18.3% in RGH, 67.7% in MET, 52.3% in GPZ, 56.9% in PIO-treated group. With decreased plasma glucose levels, the insulin resistance index of the RGL-treated group was reduced by 27.7% compared to the DC group. Insulin resistance values for positive drugs were all markedly decreased by 80.8%, 41.1% and 68.9%, compared to that of DC group. HbA1c levels in RGL, RGH, MET, GPZ and PIO-treated groups were also decreased by 11.0%, 6.4%, 18.9%, 16.1% and 27.9% compared to that of DC group, and these figure revealed a similar trend shown in plasma glucose levels. Plasma TG and NEFA levels were decreased by 18.8% and 16.8%, respectively, and plasma adiponectin and leptin levels were increased by 20.6% and 12.1%, respectively, in the RGL-treated group compared to those in DC group. Histological analysis of the liver of mice treated with KRG revealed a significantly decreased number of lipid droplets compared to the DC group. The control mice exhibited definitive loss and degeneration of islet, whereas mice treated with KRG preserved islet architecture. Compared to the DC group mice, KRG resulted in significant reduction of adipocytes. From the pancreatic islet double-immunofluorescence staining, we observed KRG has increased insulin production, but decreased glucagon production. KRG treatment resulted in stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in the db/db mice liver. To elucidate mechanism of action of KRG extract, microarray analysis was conducted in the liver tissue of mice treated with KRG extract, and results suggest that red ginseng affects on hepatic expression of genes responsible for glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. In summary, multiple administration of KRG showed the hypoglycemic activity and improved glucose tolerance. In addition, KRG increased glucose utilization and improved insulin sensitivity through inhibition of lipogenesis and activation of fatty acid $\beta$-oxidation in the liver tissue. In view of our present data, we may suggest that KRG could provide a solid basis for the development of new anti-diabetic drug.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.253-261
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• 2004

Ginsenosides and green tea extracts show a variety of biomedical efficacies such as anti-aging, anti-oxidation and anti-tumor-promotion effects. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been reported to inhibit the UVB-induced apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2-to-Bax ratio. We have previously shown that ginsenoside Fl protects human HaCaT cells from ultraviolet-B (UVB)-induced apoptosis by maintaining constant levels of Bcl-2 and Brn-3a. Here, we investigate the combined effect of ginsenoside Fl and EGCG on the protection of human HaCaT keratinocyte against UVB-induced apoptosis. When treated individually, although 5 ${\mu}$M ginsenoside Fl and 50${\mu}$M EGCG protected cells from UVB-induced apoptosis, 2${\mu}$M ginsenoside Fl or 10${\mu}$M EGCG treatment showed very little protection effect. However, cotreatement of 2${\mu}$M ginsenoside Fl and 10${\mu}$M EGCG successfully protected HaCaT cells from UVB-induced cell death. As expected, combining ginsenoside Fl and EGCG efficiently prevented UVB-induced decrease of Bcl-2 and Brn-3a expression. In addition, cotreatment with ginsenoside F1 and EGCG prevented the dephosphorylation of Rb, whereas individual treatment with ginsenoside Fl or EGCG failed to prevent the dephosphorylation of Rb even at high concentrations.