• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.383-388
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• 2015

$K^+$ outward currents in the outer hair cells (OHCs) of circling mice (homozygous (cir/cir) mice), an animal model for human deafness (DFNB6 type), were investigated using a whole cell patch clamp technique. Littermate heterozygous (+/cir) mice of the same age (postnatal day (P) 0-P6) were used as controls. Similar slow rising $K^+$ currents were observed in both genotypes, but their biophysical and pharmacological properties were quite different. The values of Vhalf for activation were significantly different in the heterozygous (+/cir) and homozygous (cir/cir) mice ($-8.1{\pm}2.2mV$, heterozygous (+/cir) mice (n=7) and $-17.2{\pm}4.2mV$, homozygous (cir/cir) mice (n=5)). The inactivation curve was expressed by a single first order Boltzmann equation in the homozygous (cir/cir) mice, while it was expressed by a sum of two first order Boltzmann equations in the heterozygous (+/cir) mice. The $K^+$ current of homozygous (cir/cir) mice was more sensitive to TEA in the 1 to 10 mM range, while the 4-AP sensitivities were not different between the two genotypes. Removal of external $Ca^{2+}$ did not affect the $K^+$ currents in either genotype, indicating that the higher sensitivity of $K^+$ current to TEA in the homozygous (cir/cir) mice was not due to an early expression of $Ca^{2+}$ activated $K^+$ channels. Our results suggest that the $K^+$ outward current of developing homozygous (cir/cir) mice OHCs is different in both biophysical and pharmacological aspects than that of heterozygous (+/cir) mice.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.187-194
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• 2016

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a very disturbing and expensive disorder in which the exact etiology is not known and it is yet to be treated completely well. Most alopecia patients exhibit some inflammation in the hair follicles regardless of the causes. The clinical symptoms of alopecia present very diversely while the prime symptom is local intermittent fever which are related to inflamed cells. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate how repetitive intermittent fever can damage the normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells and investigated the cytotoxic and proliferative effects after application of new candidate drugs (ibuprofen, menthol, cetirizine) for alopecia in comparison to minoxidil. Results: This study demonstrated that ibuprofen, menthol, or/and cetirizine can prevent or slow down the damage of NHDF cells from intermittent fever in early alopecia. Aggressive preventative intervention with those drugs before complete destruction of hair follicle by excessive repetitive fever, is a very important step for alopecia therapy and these drugs are recommended as candidate drugs for alopecia in the future. Conclusion: Aggressive preventative intervention with drugs before complete destruction of hair follicles (NHDF cells) by excessive repetitive fever is a very important step for alopecia therapy or progression.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.244-248
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• 2013

In order to investigate functional characterization of callus extracts of apple 'Hirosaki' for cosmetic materials, biological activities of its extracts including wrinkle improvement, hair growth, and anti-inflammatory effect were investigated. The callus extract showed similar activity with TGF-${\beta}$ used as positive control at 50 ${\mu}g/mL$ in the test of collagen synthesis, and increased 40% of proliferation of hair follicle dermal papilla cells. Especially, in case of anti-inflammatory effect, callus extract inhibited about 50% of COX-2 expression which was known as response for intermediating inflammation, and about 70% of eotaxin-1 production which was increased by atopy dermatitis.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.522-528
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• 1999

The effect of a water-soluble extract from natural materials on radiation-induced mutations was studied by means of TSH assay in Tradescantia 4430 stamen hair cells. Inflorescence cuttings, with or without pretreatments of natural extracts for 3 hours, were exposed to 1 Gy of gamma ray. Comparisons were made on the basis of pooled data during the peak interval between the mean pink mutation frequencies of the experimental groups. Pretreatments of FB or FB-I resulted in about two-fold increases of the pink mutation frequencies, compared to those of the control group. Synergism between certain fractions and radiation was a possible cause of the increased DNA damage. FB and FB-I had a radiosensitizing effects on the pink mutations in Tradescantia 4430 stamen hair cells (p<0.001). On the other hand, the extract PP in a proper concentration significantly reduced the pink mutation frequencies (p<0.05). The result means that PP has a protective effect on the radiation-induced cell damage.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.423-429
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• 2017

Hair color is determined by kind and amount of melanin. Melanocyte mainly synthesizes melanin from L-tyrosine by stimulation of ultra violet. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in greying hair. Polygonum multiflorum radix has been reported to inhibit the aging process that black color of hair is turned into grey color. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Polygoni multiflorium radix ethanol extract (PMEE) on melanin synthesis related to black hair growth. In anti-oxidant experiment, PMEE decreased DPPH radical and increased reducing power, indicating that PMEE could eliminate ROS involved in greying hair. PMEE decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the effect of PMEE on the production of melanin was determined by DOPA assay and tyrosinase activity. PMEE increased tyrosinase activity and promoted melanin synthesis. In addition, the expression levels of tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase related protein-2 (TRP-2) and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), as well as anti-oxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD-3) and catalase were examined using western blot analysis. The expression levels of SOD-3 and catalase were decreased due to the enhanced antioxidant activity of PMEE. In particular, PMEE increased the expression levels of tyrosinase and TRP-2. These results suggest that PMEE could promote melanin synthesis that involved in tuning gray hair into black hair.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.933-941
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• 2021

Ginsenoside Rg4 is a rare ginsenoside that is naturally found in ginseng, and exhibits a wide range of biological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in several cell types. The purpose of this study was to use an in vivo model of hair follicle (HF)-mimic based on a human dermal papilla (DP) spheroid system prepared by three-dimensional (3D) culture and to investigate the effect of Rg4 on the hair-inductive properties of DP cells. Treatment of the DP spheroids with Rg4 (20 to 50 ㎍/ml) significantly increased the viability and size of the DP spheres in a dose-dependent manner. Rg4 also increased the mRNA and protein expression of DP signature genes that are related to hair growth including ALP, BMP2, and VCAN in the DP spheres. Analysis of the signaling molecules and luciferase reporter assays further revealed that Rg4 induces the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and the inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK3β, which activates the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway. These results correlated with not only the increased nuclear translocation of β-catenin following the treatment of the DP spheres with Rg4 but also the significant elevation of mRNA expression of the downstream target genes of the WNT/β-catenin pathway including WNT5A, β-catenin, and LEF1. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg4 promotes the hair-inductive properties of DP cells by activating the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway in DP spheres, suggesting that Rg4 could be a potential natural therapy for hair growth.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.348-356
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• 2019

This study evaluated the dermal cytotoxicity of sodium bromate (NaBrO₃) and the protective effect of Aster tataricus L. (AT) extract against NaBrO₃-induced cytotoxicity in the cultured NIH3T3 fibroblasts. For this study, it was done the antioxidative effects such as electron donating (ED) activity and lipid peroxidation (LP) activity as well as cell viability. NaBrO₃ significantly decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and its XTT₅₀ value was measured at a concentration of 54.4 μM in these cultures. The cytotoxicity of NaBrO₃ was determined as highly-toxic by Borenfreund and Puerner's toxic criteria. The quercetin, antioxidant significantly increased cell viability against NaBrO₃-induced cytotoxicity. Regarding the protective effect of Aster tataricus (AT) L. extract on NaBrO₃-induced cytotoxicity, AT extract significantly increased the cell viability, the ED ability and the inhibitory ability of LP. From these findings, it suggested that the oxidative stress is involved in the cytotoxicity of NaBrO₃, and AT extract effectively protected NaBrO₃-induced cytotoxicity by antioxidative effects. Conclusively, the natural component like AT extract may be a putative therapeutic agent for the diminution or treatment of the cytotoxicity correlated with oxidative stress like hair dye component, NaBrO₃.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.159-162
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• 2006

Trichilemmal carcinoma is a rare malignant neoplasm of the hair follicle from the outer root of the hair follicle sheath. This tumor can be misleading, and a false diagnosis of a squamous cell carcinoma. We report a case of trichilemmal carcinoma with a review of literature. The patient presented with an exophytic well circumscribed nodular mass on the left auricle, which was detected 6 months ago. Histopathologically, the tumor consisted of atypical clear cells which contained abundant glycogen. The tumor cells shows lobular growth pattern with necrosis, foci of trichilemmal keratinization and peripheral pallisading. Total excision and repair with full-thickness skin graft was done with minimal surgical morbidity. The patient has been free of recurrence or metastasis for 8 months.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1077-1082
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• 2007

We present a micromechanical active amplifier, inspired from the principle of the outer hair cells in cochlea, amplifying both displacement and force. The present micromechanical active amplifier modulates the resonant carrier motion using the variable stiffness spring whose stiffness changes proportionally to the input motion. We design, fabricate, and characterize two types of the amplifiers A and B, each having the variable stiffness spring fur the maximum displacement gain and force gain, respectively. In the experimental study, the amplifier A shows the displacement gain of 5.62, which is 2.15 times larger than that of the amplifier 3. The amplifier B shows the force gain of 10.0, resulting in 1.26 times larger value compared to that of the amplifier A. We experimentally verify that the haircell-inspired micromechanical amplifiers are capable to amplify both displacement and force.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.98-106
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• 1994

The corneal formation of compound eye of Pieris rapae L., which was mostly made during pupal stage, was morphologically investigated with light microscope, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The regeneration of the microvilli were found on the surface membranes of corneagen cells and retinular pigment cells of preommatidium after apolysis pupal cuticle. The microvilli were finally differentiated to corneal nipples of the ommatidium. The corneal cuticle was generated on the superficial layer of the preommatidium from corneagen cells and retinular pigment cells. The corneal process was also formed under the cuticular layer from the corneagen cells. The pore canal was appeared within the cuticular layer and connected with the retinular pigment cell as if the root of interommatidial hair was connected. The interommatidial hair was projected randomly among the ommatidial facets and cornal nipple was arrayed regular on the ommatidial facets. The cornea was convex lens and the refracting power by its convex shape was 4 diopter.