• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.507-513
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• 2008

Purpose: Interest in the augmentation of hair growth for functional and aesthetic purpose has increased dramatically in recent years. Many hair growth products have been released, but most of these have not been proven scientifically. This study aims to measure the hair growth effect of azelaic acid and vitamin $B_6$, which have been known as hair growth materials, in animal models. Methods: Six weeks old C57BL/6 mice were used in this study and hair of mice were removed by topical treatment. The mice were divided into five experimental groups according to the testing material such as saline (negative control), propylene glycol(vehicle control), azelaic acid, vitamin B6 and azelaic acid plus vitamin B6 in combination. Hair growth was documented photographically and histologically, and then analysed by the high quality hair analysis program system. The quantity of endocrine factors, IGF-I and TGF-${\beta}1$ in the skin of mice was measured by PCR analysis. Results: The topical treatment of azelaic acid and vitamin B6 in combination for 2 weeks to dorsal skin accelerated hair regrowth more than other groups. The azelaic acid and vitamin $B_6$-combined treatment also promoted hair follicle elongation and thickness compared to the others. Histologic studies showed increased number of basal cells in azelaic acid and vitamin $B_6$-combined treatment. Furthermore, the azelaic acid and vitamin $B_6$-combined group significantly increased the expression of IGF-I but decreased the expression of TGF-${\beta}1$ in the skin of mice compared to other groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that azelaic acid and vitamin $B_6$, when used together, have an additive effect and might be used as hair growth materials.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.179-185
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• 2012

Paecilomyces sinclairiis (PS) is known as a functional food or human health supplement. However concerns have been raised about its kidney toxicity. This study was performed to investigate the kidney toxicity of PS by 13 week-oral administration to rats. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and kidney damage biomarkers including beta-2-microglobulin (${\beta}2m$), glutathione S-transferase alpha (GST-${\alpha}$), kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), calbindin, clusterin, cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and osteopontin were measured during or after the treatment of PS. BUN, creatinine and kidney damage biomarkers in serum were not changed by PS. However, kidney cell karyomegaly and tubular hypertrophy were observed dose-dependently with higher severity in males. KIM-1, TIMP-1 and osteopontin in kidney and urine were increased dose dependently in male or at the highest dose in female rats. Increased urinary osteopontin by PS was not recovered at 2 weeks of post-exposure in both genders. Cystatin C in kidney was decreased at all treatment groups but inversely increased in urine. The changes in kidney damage biomarkers were more remarkable in male than female rats. These data indicate that the PS may provoke renal cell damage and glomerular filtration dysfunction in rats with histopathological lesions and change of kidney damage biomarkers in kidney or urine. Kidney and urinary KIM-1 and cystatin C were the most marked indicators, while kidney weight, BUN and creatinine and kidney damage biomarkers in serum were not influenced.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.235-247
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chitosan coating on the attachment, proliferation, functional and morphological change of human gingival fibroblasts. Primary culture of human gingival fibroblasts were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotics. In experimental group, cells were inoculated in the multiwell plates coated with chitosan in concentration of 0.02, 0.2, and 2 mg/ml. Cell counting and MTT assay were done after 0.5, 1.5, 3, 6 and 24 hours of incubation to evaluate the cell attachment, and then after 2 and 7 days of culture to evaluate the cell proliferation. The alkaline phosphatase activity was measured after 4 and 7 days of culture and the ability to produce mineralized nodules was evaluated after 21 days of culture. The results were as follows : The morphology of cells on the chitosan-coated well was round or spheric. Round cells were aggregated since 6 hours of culture and showed nodule-like appearance after 24 hours of culture and did not achieved confluency at 7 days. The attachment of gingival fibroblasts was inhibited by chitosan coating with a tendency of dose dependent pattern. But, cellular activity of unit cell was higher than control. The proliferation of gingival fibroblasts was inhibited by chitosan coating at 2 mg/ml(P<0.01), while the cell proliferation at 0.02, 0.2 $mg/m{\ell}$ was comparable to the control well. Total alkaline phosphatase activity was inhibited by chitosan coating and decreased in the course of time. While ALP activity of unit cell was the highest at 2mg/ml after 4 days of culture. Finally, gingival fibroblasts produced the mineralized nodule at 2 mg/ml. In summary, the attachment, proliferation, and alkaline phosphatase activity of gingival fibroblasts were influenced differently by the concentration of coated chitosan. From this study, it could be used as the matrix of tissue engineering for gingiva without inhibition on proliferation of gingival fibroblasts using chitosan at the optimal concentration (0.02mg/ml).

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.361-366
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• 2004

Defatted methanol extracts of the medicinal plants, Rubus coreanus Miq. (RC) and Atractylodes japonica Koidzumi (AJ) were added at the levels of 0.1, 0.5, or $2\%$ (w/w) to high cholesterol diets and fed to ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley female rats, weighing 212.6 $\pm$ 1.8 g for four weeks. Weight gains were lower in RC and AJ groups than the control group, but there were no changes in uterus weights. Serum levels of triglyceride decreased by 20-$27\%$ in the experimental groups fed $0.1\%$ of each extract (O.1RC and O.1AJ), compared with that of control (Ovx). Serum cholesterol levels were not changed in the RC groups but increased in the group fed $2\%$ of the AJ extract. Liver levels of cholesterol and triglyceride were reduced in both the RC and AJ groups. Microscopic observation revealed that there were no morphological alterations in liver, lung, heart, spleen and kidney tissues of the experimental groups. Plasma levels of albumin, BUN, creatinine, sodium, potassium and phosphate in the IRC and AJ groups were in normal ranges. Serum GOT and GPT activities were, however, higher in the 2.0AJ than Ovx group. These results suggest that the extracts of the Rubus coreanus Miq. and Atractylodes japonica Koidzumi at dietary levels as low as $0.1\%$ may be utilized as hypotriglyceridemic ingredients for functional foods.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.62-72
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• 2002

This study has investigated the biosynthesis and function of the heavy metal binding peptides, the phytochelatins, in plants. PCs are synthesised enzymatically from glutathione by the enzyme PC synthase in the presence of heavy metal ions. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model organism cadmium-sensitive, phytochelatin-deficient mutants have been isolated and characterised in previous studies. The cadl mutants have wildtype levels of glutathione, are PC deficient and lack PC synthase activity. Thus, the CADl gene has been proposed to encode PC synthase. The CADl gene was isolated by a positional cloning strategy The gene was mapped and a candidate identified. Each of four cadl mutants had a single base pair change in the candidate gene and the cadmium-sensitive, cadl phenotype was complemented by the candidate gene. This demonstrated the CADl gene had been cloned. A homologous gene in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe was identified through database searches. A targeted-deletion mutation of this gene was constructed and the mutant, like cadl mutants of Arabidopsis, was cadmium-sensitive and PC-deficient. A comparison of the redicted amino acid sequences reveals a highly conserved N-terminal region Presumed to be the catalytic domain and a variable C-terminal region containing multiple Cys residues proposed to be involved in activation of the enzyme by metal ions. Similar genes were also identified in animal species. The Arabidopsis CADl/AtPCSl and S. pombe SpbPCS genes were expressed in E. coli and were shown to be sufficient for glutathione-dependent, heavy metal activate PC synthesis in vitro, thus demonstrating these genes encode PC synthase enzymes. Using RT-PCR, AtPCSl expression appeared to be independent of Cd exposure. However, at higher levels of Cd exposure a AtPCSl-CUS reporter gene construct appeared to be more highly expressed. Using the reporter gene construct, AtPCSl was expressed most tissues. Expression appeared to be greater in younger tissues and same higher levels of expression was observed in some regions, including carpels and the base of siliques. AtPCS2 was a functional gene encoding an active PC synthase. However, its Pattern of expression and the phenotype of a mutant (or antisense line) have not been determined. Assuming the gene is functional then it has clearly been maintained through evolution and must provide some selective advantage. This implies that, at least in some cells or tissue, it is likely to be the dominant PC synthase expressed. This remains to be determined

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.197-203
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• 2023

Callus cultivation is a method for producing a large amount of tissue of a plant in the laboratory, regardless of the environment. Lycoris chejuensis, a plant species native to jeju island, is a member of the Lycoris family has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of diverse diseases. In this study, we evaluated anti-inflammatory effect of biorenovated Lycoris chejuensis callus (LCB) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. As a result, LCB was less toxic to the cells in the concentration range of 25, 50, and 100 ㎍/mL as shown by the improved viability of LCB treated cells than compared to Lycoris chejuensis callus (LC) treatment. In addition, LCB inhibited the generation of NO and prostaglandin E₂ through the suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression. LCB also attenuated the expression of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α induced by LPS. The results suggest that LCB has anti-inflammatory activity on the LPS-induced inflammatory response and may be suitable for the development of potent functional cosmetic material.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2024

Even though MR can reveal excellent soft-tissue contrast and functional information, CT is also required for electron density information for accurate dose calculation in Radiotherapy. For the fusion of MRI and CT images in RT treatment planning workflow, patients are normally scanned on both MRI and CT imaging modalities. Recently deep-learning-based generations of CT images from MR images became possible owing to machine learning technology. This eliminated CT scanning work. This study implemented a CycleGan deep-learning-based CT image generation from MR images. Three CT generators whose learning is based on T1- , T2- , or T1-&T2-weighted MR images were created, respectively. We found that the T1-weighted MR image-based generator can generate better than other CT generators when T1-weighted MR images are input. In contrast, a T2-weighted MR image-based generator can generate better than other CT generators do when T2-weighted MR images are input. The results say that the CT generator from MR images is just outside the practical clinics and the specific weight MR image-based machine-learning generator can generate better CT images than other sequence MR image-based generators do.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.39-45
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• 2023

Biorenovation is a biotransformation method that converts the structure of chemical compounds and natural product through biocatalytic metabolism of microorganism and could enhance biological effectiveness and mitigate cytotoxicity compared to its substrates. Althaea rosea L. has been used as oriental medicine and is known for physiological efficacies such as antiurolithiatic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. A. rosea L. callus, the plant tissue grown to protect its wound, has been reported to have antioxidant and whitening effects. However, mechanisms of its other activity such as inflammation have not yet been investigated. In this study, we extracted A. rosea L. callus (AR) and produced biorenovated AR (ARBR), and then analyzed anti-inflammatory effect in Lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage at 50, 100, 200 ㎍/mL of ARBR. As a result of inhibition test of nitric oxide production, it was found that ARBR was superior to AR without apparent toxicity. Furthermore, ARBR significantly inhibited production of prostaglandin E₂, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines including Tumor necrosis factor-α, Interleukin-6, Interleukin-1β in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, we suggest that ARBR could regulate the excessive inflammatory response to an appropriate level and be a promising material for functional cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.285-290
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• 2009

This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Solanum nigum Linne total extract (SNT), Solanum nigum Linne leaf extract (SNL), Solanum nigum Linne root extract (SNR) on liver injury induced by Lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in Sprague-Dawley rats. SNT, SNL, SNR of 100 mg/kg concentration was intraperitoneally administered into rats at dose of 1.5 ml/kg for 20 days. on the day 1.5 ml/kg of LPS was injected. Four hours later, they were anesthetization with ether and dissected. Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were measured in serum and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were measured in liver homogenate. SNT, SNL, SNR extract inhibited GOT and GPT activities in LPS-induced rats, whereas increased SOD, Catalase and GPX activity in liver tissue of LPS-induced rats. These suggested that SNT, SNL, SNR could be used for functional beverage.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1097-1104
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• 2016

With the development of next generation sequencing (NGS), large numbers of transcriptional molecules have been discovered. Most transcripts are non -coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Among them, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with more than 200 nucleotides represent functional RNA molecule that will not be translated into protein. In plants, lncRNAs are transcribed by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) or Pol III, Pol VI and Pol V. After transcription of these lncRNAs, more RNA processing mechanisms such as splicing and polyadenylation occurs. The expression of plant lncRNAs is very low and is tissue specific. However, these lncRNAs are strongly induced by specific external stimuli. Because different external stimuli including environmental stresses induce a large number of plant lncRNAs, these lncRNAs have been gradually considered as new regulatory factors of various biological and development processes such as epigenetic repression, chromatin modification, target mimicry, photomorphogenesis, protein relocalization, environmental stress response, pathogen infection in plants. Moreover, some lncRNAs act as precursor of short RNAs. Although a large number of lncRNAs have been predicted and identified in plants, our current understanding of the biological function of these lncRNAs is still limited and their detailed regulatory mechanisms should be elucidated continuously. Here, we reviewed the biogenesis and regulation mechanisms of lncRNAs and summarized the molecular functions unraveled in plants.