• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.182-186
• /
• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wild ginseng pharmacopuncture on melanin production in B16/F10 murine melanoma cells. Methods: To determine the effect of wild ginseng pharmacopuncture solution on B16/F10 cells, cytotoxicity was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. To observe B16/F10 cell growth, death, and morphological changes, Trypan blue solution was used. The Hosoi method was used to investigate the effect of wild ginseng pharmacopuncture solution on melanin production. The Martinez-Esparza method was used to investigate the effect of wild ginseng pharmacopuncture solution on tyrosinase activity. To determine the pathway involved in the melanogenesis in cells exposed to wild ginseng pharmacopuncture solution, a cell-free tyrosinase was used. Results: Following treatment with $200{\mu}L$ of wild ginseng solution, the cell survival rate was $76.32{\pm}2.45%$ which significantly decreased with higher concentrations (${\mu}L$) of wild ginseng (up to $200{\mu}L$). When $100{\mu}L$ of wild ginseng was used, the cell survival rate was $89.95{\pm}2.07%$. No morphological changes or abnormalities were observed in the B16/F10 murine melanoma cells as observed in the Trypan blue test. Melanin production was significantly reduced to $72.17{\pm}3.74%$ at $100{\mu}L$. Using $100{\mu}L$ of wild ginseng solution, tyrosinase activity was significantly decreased to $80.15{\pm}1.05%$. Wild ginseng pharmacopuncture solution reduced melanin production both directly and indirectly. Conclusion: This study suggests that wild ginseng pharmacopuncture solution may be effective in inhibiting melanin production. Further studies are needed to determine safe and effective clinical applications.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.139-146
• /
• 2009

This study tried to develop the system (device) that automatically notify a manager of condition just before and after farrowing to extend ubiquitous-based technology and to increase efficiency of delivery care and productivity by reducing human labor and time on standby when farrowing management is done in the difficult and hard working environment of farrowing such as night or holidays in field sand especially in pig industry. In this test, selected 10 gilts were executed timed artificial insemination and were set up each temperature sensor and load sensor to them 3 days before the estimated farrowing day and were observed the farrowing situation. This study was embodied the NESPOT-based (KT Corporation) monitoring system, the system to transmit data in real time by utilization of wireless LAN and the sensor module to apply the ubiquitous environment to them. And this study was observed the situation to automatically notify situations of 10 gilts that first bore just before and after farrowing. The result obtained the farrowing situations of them in real time by setup of the NESPOT-based monitoring system to check farrowing situation directly is as follow. The average time of the automatic notice about situation just before farrowing by the temperature sensor was 27.5 minutes before the beginning of farrowing (the expulsion time of a piglet). 6 of 8 pregnant gilts that first bore automatically were notified situations just before farrowing and the temperature sensors inserted into 2 ones before farrowing were omitted. (The automatic notice rate 75%) The average time of the automatic notice of situation just after farrowing by the load sensor was taken 46.5 minutes after the beginning of farrowing (the expulsion time of a first piglet). The average gestation period of 8 ones that first bore and were tested by the automatic notice of farrowing situation was 115.6 days. This result found that the automatic farrowing notice system by the temperature sensor is more efficient than the load sensor as the automatic farrowing alarm device and sanitary treatment and improvement of the omission rate were required.

• Advances in environmental research
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.213-223
• /
• 2018

Continuous input into the aquatic ecosystem and persistent structures have created concern of antibiotics, primarily due to the potential for the development of antimicrobial resistance. Degradation kinetics and mineralization of vancomycin B (VAN-B) by photocatalysis using $TiO_2$ and ZnO nanoparticles was monitored at natural pH conditions. Photocatalysis (PC) efficiency was followed by means of UV absorbance, total organic carbon (TOC), and HPLC results to better monitor degradation of VAN-B itself. Experiments were run for two initial VAN-B concentrations ($20-50mgL^{-1}$) and using two catalysts $TiO_2$ and ZnO at different concentrations (0.1 and $0.5gL^{-1}$) in a multi-lamp batch reactor system (200 mL water volume). Furthermore, a set of toxicity tests with Daphnia magna was performed to evaluate the potential toxicity of oxidation by-products of VAN-B. Formation of intermediates such as chlorides and nitrates were monitored. A rapid VAN-B degradation was observed in ZnO-PC system (85% to 70% at 10 min), while total mineralization was observed to be relatively slower than $TiO_2-PC$ system (59% to 73% at 90 min). Treatment efficiency and mechanism of degradation directly affected the rate of transformation and by-products formation that gave rise to toxicity in the treated samples.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.86 no.2
• /
• pp.82-93
• /
• 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant public health concern. Globally, TB is among the top 10 and the leading cause of death due to a single infectious agent. Providing standard anti-TB therapy for at least 6 months is recommended as one of the crucial strategies to control the TB epidemic. However, the long duration of TB treatment raised the issue of non-adherence. Non-adherence to TB therapy could negatively affect clinical and public health outcomes. Thus, directly observed therapy (DOT) has been introduced as a standard strategy to improve anti-TB medication adherence. Nonetheless, the DOT approach has been criticized due to inconvenience, stigma, reduced economic productivity, and reduced quality of life, which ultimately could complicate adherence issues. Apart from that, its effectiveness in improving anti-TB adherence is debatable. Therefore, digital technology could be an essential tool to enhance the implementation of DOT. Incorporating the health belief model (HBM) into digital technology can further increase its effectiveness in changing behavior and improving medication adherence. This article aimed to review the latest evidence regarding TB medication non-adherence, its associated factors, DOT's efficacy and its alternatives, and the use of digital technology and HBM in improving medication adherence. This paper used the narrative review methodology to analyze related articles to address the study objectives. Conventional DOT has several disadvantages in TB management. Integrating HBM in digital technology development is potentially effective in improving medication adherence. Digital technology provides an opportunity to improve medication adherence to overcome various issues related to DOT implementation.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.17 no.1 s.28
• /
• pp.17-25
• /
• 1981

No evidence has accumulated that lead compound is an essential component for biological function in animals. Lead is absorbed primarily through the epithelial mucosal cells in duodenum and the absorption can be enhanced by the substances which bind lead and increase its solubility. Iron, zinc and calcium ions, however, decrease the absorption of lead without affecting its solubility, probably by competing for shared absorptive receptors in the intestinal mucosa. Therefore, the absorption of lead is increased in iron deficient animals. Lead shows a strong affinity for ligands such as phosphate, cysteinyl and histidyl side chains of proteins, pterins and porphyrins. Hence lead can act on various active sites of enzymes, inhibiting the enzymes which has functional sulfhydryl groups. lead inhibits the activity of ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase for the biosynthesis of hemoproteins and cytochrome, which catalyzed the synthesis of monopyrrole prophobilinogen from ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid. Accordingly lead decrease hepatic cytochrome p-450 content, resulting an inhibition of the activity of demethylase and hydroxylase in liver. Little informations are available on the effect of lead on digestive system although the catastrophic effects of lead intoxication are well documented. The present study was, therefore, attempted to investigate the effect of lead on pancreaticobiliary secretion in rats. Albino rats of both sexes weighing $170{\sim}230g$ were used for this study. The animals were divided into one control and three treated groups, i.e., control (physiologic saline 1.5ml/kg i.p.), lead acetate $(l0{\mu}mole/kg/day\;i.p.)$, $Pb(Ac)_2$ and EDTA$(each\;10{\mu}mole/kg/day\;i.p.)$, $Pb(Ac)_2$ and $FeSO_4(each\;l0{\mu}mole/kg/day\;hp)$. The pancreatico-biliary juice was collected under urethane anesthesia, and activities of amylase and lipase were determined by employing Sumner's and Cherry and Crandall's methods. The summarized results are follows. 1) In the experiment for acute toxicity of lead acetate, 20% of mortality was observed in rat treated with lead acetate as well as inhibition of the activity of amylase in the juice at the 3 rd day of the treatment. 2) No increases in body weight were observed in rats treated with lead acetate, while in control group the significant increases were observed. However, the body weights of animals were increased in the group lead acetate plus EDTA or $FeSO_4$. 3) Lead acetate decreased significantly the volume of pancreatico-biliary juice whereas additional treatment of EDTA and $FeSO_4$ prevented it. 4) Total activity of amylase was markedly reduced due to lead acetate treatment, but no change was showed following additional treatment with EDTA and $FeSO_4$. 5) No changes in the cholate and lipase output were observed in rats treated with lead acetate as compared with that of control rats. 6) Increase in bilirubin output in rats treated with lead acetate was shown on the 2nd and 3rd weeks treatment. 7) In the case of in vitro experiment, lead acetate also markedly inhibited release of amylase from pancreatic fragment. 8) Histologic finding indicated that acini vacuolation was induced in the pancreatic tissue of rat treated with lead acete. From the above results, it might be concluded that lead acetate decreases the volume of pancreatico-biliary secretion and inhibits the amylase activity, by acting directly on pancreatic cells.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.553-569
• /
• 2000

Many natural medicines have been studied for their capacity and effects of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and regenerative potential in periodontal tissues. Safflower seed has been traditionally used as a drug for treatment of bone fracture in oriental medicine. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of safflower seed extract and bone substitute on bone formation and regeneration in artificial defects in mongrel dogs. The bony defects were made with round bur at mandible and tibia. Extracts of safflower seed and bovine bone were placed directly at each defect for experimental group, and the defect of control group was sutured without any other treatment. Experimental animals were sacrificed at 8 weeks. And then histopathologic reading and histomorphometric study was done. There was not significant differences between control and experimental groups in osteoclastic activity and infiltration of inflammatory cells. However, new capillary proliferation, fibrosis and new bone formation were prominent in safflower seed extract group. The mandibular defects of safflower seed extract group were healed with dense connective and bony tissues, and endochondral bone formation was observed in tibial defect of safflower seed extract group only. New bone area of safflower seed extract group was more significantly increased than that of control and that of bone substitute group. These results indicate that direct local application of safflower seed extracts on bony defects seems to reduces the early inflammatory response and to promotes the bone regeneration.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1994.04a
• /
• pp.287-287
• /
• 1994

In the present study, it was aimed to asses the possibility that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) released in response to transient hypotension may contribute to the reflex autoregulation of cerebral blood flow as a putative modulator. Changes in pial arterial diameter (mean, 33.0 ${\pm}$ 1.1 $\mu\textrm{m}$) with changes in systemic arterial blood pressure (mean, 101.9 ${\pm}$ 2.7 mmHg) were observed directly through a closed cranial window in anesthetized normotensive rats. Image of the pial vessels was captured with a stereoscope connected to a CCD video camera and the diameter was measured with a microscaler. In the capsaicin-treated rats (one day prior to experiment, 50 nmol capsaicin injected intracisternally), both vasodilater and vasoconstrictor responses evoked by a transient hypotension and the reverse of blood pressure were markedly attenuated or almost abolished. When changes in pial arterial diameter were plotted as a function of changes in blood pressure, the slopes of both regression lines (for vasodilators and vasoconstrictors ) were markedly reduced. Similar reductions were evidenced under treatment wi th the CGRP antibody serum (1:1,000) and following CGRP receptor desensitization. However, the autoregulatory mechanics were neither affected by treatment wi th spantide (1 ${\mu}$M), substance P antagonist, nor by substance P receptor desensitization. Suffusion wi th mock cerebrospinal fluid containing CGRP and cromakalim caused a vasodilatation in a concentration-dependent manner, respectively and their effects were antagonized by glibenclamide. Substance P produced a vasodilatation, which was, however, little affected by glibenclamide. These observations indicate that the CGRP released from the perivascular sensory fibers in response to a hypotension is implicated in the modulation of the autoregulation of cerebral blood flow.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.545-558
• /
• 2000

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of low power GaAsAl laser on Fos expression in the spinal cord induced by noxious mechanical stimulation. Noxious mechanical stimulation was applied to the right hind paw following 30min of low power laser treatment using different intensity and treatment point and the resulting Fos expression in the spinal cord dorsal horn was compared to that obtained in rats exposed only to the noxious mechanical stimulation. The results were summarized as follows: 1. In intact control rats, only a few Fos like immunoreactive(Fos-IR) neurons were evident in the lumbar spinal cord dorsal horn. Similarly, following prolonged inhalation anesthesia, Fos-IR neurons were absent in the dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord. In animals treated with noxious mechanical stimulation, neurons with nuclei exhibiting Fos immunostaining were distributied mainly in the medial half of ipsilateral laminae I-V at lumbar segments L3-5. These findings directly indicated that prolonged anesthesia used in this study did not affect the Fos expression in the spinal cord dorsal horn of intact animals and noxious mechanical stimulation treated animals. 2. In acupoint treated animals, 10mW of laser stimulation, not 3mW intensity, significantly reduced the number of Fos immunoreactive neurons in the spinal dorsal horn induced by noxious mechanical stimulation(P<.01). However, the supressive effect of low power laser stimulatin was not observed in 3m Wand 10m W of laser stimulation into non-acupoint. These data indicate that 10mW of low power laser stimulation into acupoint is capable of inhibiting the expression of Fos in the dorsal horn induced by noxious mechanical stimulation. In conclusion, these findings raise the possibility that low power laser stimulation into acupoint may be a promising alternative medicine therapy for the mechanical stimulation induced pain in the clinical field.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.53-58
• /
• 2012

Objective : Obesity is often defined as a condition associated with accumulations of excessive body fats which resulting from disorder of energy balance in term of energy intake and energy expenditure. Methods : The effects of natural mixture (T) for inhibition of lipid metabolism on the liver, epididymal fat pads and pancreatic zymogen granules of high fat diet (HFD) supplied rats were observed by histopathology and histomorphometry. Results : As results of HFD supply, severe steatohepatitis such as increases of mean diameters of hepatocytes and the percentages regions of fatty changes was detected. In addition, hypertrophy of adipocytes (increase of mean diameters of epididymal fat pads) was also detected with dramatic decreases of pancreatic zymogen granules at histopathological and histomorphometrical observations. However, theses steatohepatitis and hypertrophy of adipocytes induced by HFD supply were inhibited by treatment of 5 % and 10 % T (T5, T10), respectively. Well corresponded as the results of adipocyte hypertrophy and steatohepatitis, the decreases of pancreatic zymogen granules were also dose-dependently inhibited by T treatment as compared with HFD control, respectively. Conclusion : In conclusion, based on the results, it is considered that test materials, T5 and T10, will be showed hepatoprotective and anti-obese effects, may be directly and/or indirectly mediated by pancreatic zymogen granules because they dose-dependently inhibited steatohepatitis, hypertrophy of adipocytes and decreases of pancreatic zymogen granules induced by HFD supply, respectively.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.94-100
• /
• 2006

Objective : This study was designed to examine the volumetric abnormality of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and its change after 2 years of pharmacotherapy in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) patients. Method : Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging studies were conducted in 15 OCD patients and 13 normal volunteers. For 2 years, all patients took at least one serotonin reuptake inhibitor and atypical antipsychotics were used as an augmentation therapy in most patients. The follow-up MRI studies were conducted after the pharmacotherapy and OFC volumes were measured by the manual region of interest method. Results : Bilateral OFC volumes of 15 OCD patients were significantly greater than those of the normal volunteers before the treatment. After 2 years of the treatment, significant decrease was observed in bilateral OFC volumes of OCD patients to the extent that left OFC volume of OCD patients was not different from that of the normal volunteers. Conclusion : This finding suggests that OFC is directly related to the pathophysiology of obsessive compulsive disorder.