• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.178-182
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• 2006

In this study, we investigated whether daidzein, puerarin, genistein and (+)-ar-tumerone affect mucin secretion from cultured airway epithelial cells and compared with the inhibitory action of poly-L-lysine (PLL) and the stimulatory action of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on mucin secretion. Confluent primary hamster tracheal surface epithelial (HTSE) cells were metabolically radiolabeled using $^3H$-glucosamine for 24 h and chased for 30 min in the presence of varying concentrations of each agent to assess the effects on $^3H$-mucin secretion. The results were as follows: daidzein, puerarin, genistein and (+)-ar-tumerone did not affect mucin secretion at the highest concentrations $(10^{-3}M)$, during 30 min of treatment period. Basically, this finding suggests that daidzein, puerarin and genistein - 3 components derived from Puerariae Radix - and (+)-ar-tumerone derived from Curcumae Rhizoma might not function as a mucoregulator in various inflammatory respiratory diseases showing mucus hypersecretion, although further studies are needed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.481-491
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• 2018

Allergic asthma is one of the most enduring diseases of the airway. The T-helper cells and regulatory T-cells are critically involved in inflammatory responses, mucus hypersecretion, airway remodelling and in airway hyper-responsiveness. Cigarette smoke (CS) has been found to aggravate inflammatory responses in asthma. Though currently employed drugs are effective, associated side effects demand identification and development of novel drugs with negligible or no adverse effects. Rutin, plant-derived flavonoid has been found to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated the ability of rutin to modulate T-cells and inhibit inflammation in experimentally-induced asthma in cigarette smoke exposed mice. Separate groups of neonatal mice were exposed to CS for 10 days from post-natal days 2 to 11. After 2 weeks, the mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA). Treatment group were given rutin (37.5 or 75 mg/kg body weight) during OVA sensitization and challenge. Rutin treatment was found to significantly inhibit cellular infiltration in the airways and Th2 and Th17 cytokine levels as well. Flow cytometry revealed effectively raised $CD4^+CD25^+Fox3^+$ Treg cells and supressed Th17 cell population on rutin treatment. Airway hyper-responsiveness observed following CS and OVA challenge were inhibited by rutin. $NF-{\kappa}B$ and iNOS, chief regulators of inflammatory responses robustly activated by CS and OVA were down-regulated by rutin. Rutin also inhibited the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9, thereby aiding in prevention of airway remodelling in asthma thereby revealing to be a potent candidate in asthma therapy.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.48-52
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• 2017

Background The ideal vaginoplasty must be successful functionally as well as have a natural appearance, and also must retain its functionality and appearance over the long term. Conventional vaginoplasty techniques have functional limitations and are associated with recurrent complications, but rectosigmoid vaginoplasty is known to have a high satisfaction rate due to its functional similarity with the vagina. We conducted the present study to assess the usability of rectosigmoid vaginoplasty over the course of long-term follow-up. Methods From March 1992 to February 2014, 84 patients were treated with rectosigmoid vaginoplasty; 44 had gender identity disorder, 29 had vaginal agenesis, 8 had female pseudohermaphroditism, and 3 had gynecologic malignancies after radical pelvic surgery. This retrospective study was based on a review of the patients' records, clinical examinations, complications, and questionnaires about appearance, function, and sexual intercourse. Results All patients who underwent rectosigmoid vaginoplasty were discharged within 2 weeks without surgical flap loss. The early complications were partial flap necrosis, difficulty in defecation, mucous hypersecretion, and postoperative ileus. The late complications were vaginal introitus contracture, vaginal prolapse, and difficulty in urination. The mean length and diameter of the neovagina 3.4 years after rectosigmoid vaginoplasty were 13.2 cm and 3.8 cm, respectively. On questionnaires about satisfaction, 70% of patients reported excellent satisfaction, 11% good, 12% fair, and 7% poor. Conclusions Rectosigmoid vaginoplasty is useful, safe, and well-accepted operative method with good functional and cosmetic results, such as natural lubrication and adequate vaginal length and width obtained without requiring the use of a dilator.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.31-35
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• 2002

생쥐에서 페르몬으로 알려진 소수성의 분자와 결합하는 major urinary proteins(MUPs)는 부분적으로 성장 호르몬(GH)의 조절을 받는다. 본 연구에서는 MT-GRF로 형질전환되어 성장호르몬이 증가된 생쥐에서 MUP의 발현을 조사하였다. 이 MT-GRF로 형질전환된 생쥐의 소변에서 MUP이 대조군보다 심하게 저하되어 나타났고, 암컷보다 수컷에서 더 저하되어 나타났다. 또한 MT-GRF를 근육에 주사한 생쥐에서도 MUP는 저하되어 나타났다. 부가하여, MT-GRF로 형질전환시킨 생쥐의 소변에서 전기영동상에서 albumin과 동일하게 이동하는 고분자의 단백질이 다량으로 관찰되었는데 신장의 사구체 여과가 손상되었음을 암시하고 있다. 이 혈장 단백질의 손실도 암컷보다 수컷에서 심하게 나타났다. 결과적으로 GRF의 과다생성은 성별에 차별화된 영향을 미치면서 GH로 형질전환된 동물모델에서 관찰되는 MUP의 발현과 사구체 기능의 변화를 동일하게 유발하고 있었다.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.91-97
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• 2002

Enteroaggregative E. coil (EAEC) is an important aethiological causal agent of diarrhea in people of developed and undeveloped countries. Different in vitro and in vivo models have been proposed to study the pathdgenic and immune mechanisms of EAEC infaction. The aim of this study was to analyze whether BALB/c mice could be used as an animal model to study EAEC pathogenesis Six-week-old BALB/c mice were inoculated with EAEC strain 042 (044:H88) nalidixic acid resistant, and re-inoc-ulated ten days after. Mice feces were monitored for the presence of the EAEC strain over a period of 20 days . Bacteria were enumerated on MacConkey agar containing 100$\mu$g of nalidixic acid per ml. Results showed that 35% of the animals were colonized for 3 days, 15% for 5 and 10% for more than 7 days . After re-inoculation only 16% of the animals remained colonized for more than 3 days. During the necropsy, the intestinal fluid of same of the infected animals presented mucus and blood. Six of these fluids showed the presence of IgA antibodies againset Pet toxin and IgG natibodies raised against the toxin were also detected in the animal serum. Histopathologic evidence confirms the stimulation of mucus hypersecretion, an increased amount of goblet cells and the presence of bacterial aggregates in the apical surfaces of intestinal epithelial cells. Edema was present in the submucosa. These results suggest that BALB/c mice could be used as an animal model for in vivo study of EAEC infection.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제50권6호
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• pp.414-426
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• 2022

The Lauraceae family has commercial uses, such as in the food, pharmaceutical, and perfume industries. This study was conducted to investigate anti-asthmatic activity of essential oils from the seven species in the Lauraceae family. The essential oils were extracted from the leaves of seven species, and the chemical composition was investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major constituents of essential oils differed depending on the species, even if they belonged to the same family. The main constituents were camphor (89.09%) in Cinnamomum camphora, linalool (26.91%) in Cinnamomum cassia, 1,8-cineole (23.90%) in Cinnamomum japonicum, d-limonene (10.27%) and β-eudesmol (10.03%) in Lindera obtusiloba, δ-cadinene (13.85%) and α-phellandrene (11.57%) in Machilus japonica, cis-,trans-β-ocimene (13.80% and 12.06%) and elemol (11.46%) in Neolitsea aciculata, and cis-β-ocimene (37.94%) and sabinene (24.91%) in Neolitsea sericea. The anti-asthmatic activity of essential oils was investigated using the lipopolysaccharide-induced NCI-H292 cells. The relative expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6] and mucus gene (MUC5AC and MUC5B) were significantly reduced by essential oils from seven species in the Lauraceae family. Among the seven essential oils, the essential oil from L. obtusiloba had the most superior anti-asthmatic activity. These results suggest that the essential oil of L. obtusiloba leaves could be used as an agent to suppress mucus hypersecretion.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.123-129
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• 2012

Objectives : Allergy has been described as an inflammatory with hypersensitivity resulting from seasonal or perennial responses to specific allergens. The root of Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC.(Platycodi Radix; Campanulaceae) has been traditionally used to treat chronic diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, inflammation and hyperlipidemia. In this study, we examined the effect of 70% ethanol extract of Platycodi Radix (PR-E) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway inflammation in mice. Methods : Mice were sensitized and challenged by OVA inhalation to induced chronic airway inflammation, and then were intragastrically administered PR-E extract at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg/day from days 21 to 30 consecutively. The levels of allergic mediators such as histamine, OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, and cytokines such as IL-4 and IFN-${\gamma}$ were measured in the sera of mice by ELISA. The histological change of lung tissue was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results : PR-E extract significantly decreased the serum levels of histamine, OVA-specific IgE, and Th2 cytokine, IL-4 compared with those in the OVA-induced group. PE-E extract significantly increased the serum level of Th1 cytokine, IFN-${\gamma}$. Based on lung histopathological studies, inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus hypersecretion were inhibited by PE-E extract administration compared to that in the OVA-induced group. Conclusions : These findings indicate that PE-E extract may be useful as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of bronchial asthma.

• 대한화장품학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한화장품학회 2003년도 IFSCC Conference Proceeding Book I
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• pp.578-589
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• 2003

The fuzzy rat that expresses hypersecretion of sebum and hyperplastic sebaceous glands is a genetic mutant for the study of many pharmacological aspects especially human acne. Through this model, we examined the effects of several phospholipids on the secretion of sebum after topical application. The phospholipid derivatives were phosphatidylcholine (PC), hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine (HPC), phosphati dylserine (PS) and hydrogenated phosphatidylserine(HPS). All agents were dissolved into the vehicle (1, 3-Butanediol, ethanol and water) at 0.5％ weight volume and applied on the dorsal area of the fuzzy rat. To observe histological changes, the skin biopsies were stained with Oil Red O and the size and morphology of sebaceous gland was observed under microscope. Topical treatment with PC and/or HPC showed a marked decrease in sebum excretion. Especially hydrogenated PC (HPC) appeared to have more predominant sebosuppressive function than any other treatment. The other agents such as PS and HPS showed a marginal effect on sebum secretion. With the sebosuppressive activity, HPC and PC seem to have a good potential application on acne treatment. In order to obtain more insights into possible mechanisms behind the above observations, effects of each phospholipid on the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) genes were investigated. Recently, it has been demonstrated that expression and activation of PPAR subtypes appear to modulate the accumulation of cytoplasmic fat droplets that characterizes the sebocyte differentiation(1). It was also previously suggested that PPAR${\gamma}$ antagonist would seem possible to interfere sebum production without side effects (2). In this study we examined the diverse effects of the tested phospholipids on the expression of several PPAR genes based on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from the topically treated skin of fuzzy rats. The results and possible implications are discussed.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권11호
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• pp.700-709
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• 2023

Mucus hyperproduction and hypersecretion are observed often in respiratory diseases. MUC8 is a glycoprotein synthesized by epithelial cells and generally expressed in the respiratory track. However, the physiological mechanism by which extracellular nucleotides induce MUC8 gene expression in human airway epithelial cells is unclear. Here, we show that UTP could induce MUC8 gene expression through P2Y2-PLCβ3-Ca²⁺ activation. Because the full-length cDNA sequence of MUC8 has not been identified, a specific siRNA-MUC8 was designed based on the partial cDNA sequence of MUC8. siRNA-MUC8 significantly increased TNF-α production and decreased IL-1Ra production, suggesting that MUC8 may downregulate UTP/P2Y2-induced airway inflammation. Interestingly, the PDZ peptide of ZO-1 protein strongly abolished UTP-induced TNF-α production and increased IL-1Ra production and MUC8 gene expression. In addition, the PDZ peptide dramatically increased the levels of UTP-induced ZO proteins and TEER (trans-epithelial electrical resistance). These results show that the anti-inflammatory mucin MUC8 may contribute to homeostasis, and the PDZ peptide can be a novel therapeutic candidate for UTP-induced airway inflammation.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제85권2호
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• pp.456-462
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• 2024

원발성 알도스테론증은 자율신경계에 의한 알도스테론 분비조절의 장애로 고혈압 및 저칼륨혈증과 관련이 있다. 원발성 알도스테론증에서 편측성을 결정하는 것이 매우 중요한 이유는 그에 따라 치료 방법이 달라지기 때문이다. 부신정맥채혈술은 원발성 알도스테론증에서 편측성을 평가하는 가장 신뢰성 있는 방법으로 알려져 있다. 부신정맥채혈술은 부신 정맥이 크기가 매우 작으며 그 해부학적 위치가 다양하기 때문에 기술적으로 어려운 시술이다. 따라서 성공적인 시술을 위해서는 해부학적 변이를 잘 이해하고 시술 전 영상 검사를 면밀히 검토하는 것이 중요하다. 부신정맥채혈술 중에 발견된 세 가지 해부학적 변이를 보고하고자 한다.