• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.697-704
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• 1998

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by a marked infiltration of eosinophils in the bronchial mucosa. Asthmatic bronchial mucosa produces many factors described as being chemotactic for inflammatory cells. IL-5, RANTES, and MCP-1 alpha are the chemotactic factors for eosinophils, but their roles are controversial. Recently eotaxin that is a potent eosinophil chemoattractant cytokine was detected in a guinea-pig model of allergic airway inflammation, and human eotaxin was cloned. Eotaxin is a specific chemoattractant for eosinophils, but its role in asthma is not confirmed. We examined the in vivo expression of eotaxin in bronchi of asthmatic patients. Methods : 11 asthmatics and 2 normal controls were enrolled. All subjects were underwent bronchoscopy with bronchial biopsies in 2nd or 3rd carina. RNA extraction from biopsy samples was done by acid-guanidium method. Semi-quantitaive RT-PCR was done for evaluation of eotaxin mRNA expression The extent of eosinophil infiltration was evaluated by counting the eosinophils in submucosa in HPF of microscope. Results : Eotaxin mRNA expressed in symptomatic, uncontrolled asthma. Steroid inhibited expression of eotaxin mRNA in asthma. Expression of eotaxin mRNA correlated with eosinophil infiltration in bronchial tissues. Conclusion: Expression of eotaxin mRNA increases in uncontrolled asthma and eotaxin is involved in the recruitment of eosinophils.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.805-813
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• 2005

In our previous study, a novel herb mixture (HIM-I) of Angelim gigas radix, Cnidium officinale rhizoma, and Paeonia japonica radix was developed to protect the intestinal and immune systems and promote its recovery against radiation damage. In this study, a new herbal preparation (HemoHIM) with the high immune modulating activity was developed from HIM-I. HIM-I was fractionated into ethanol fraction (HIM-I-E) and polysaccharide fraction (HIM-I-P). And HemoHIM was prepared by adding HIM-I-P to HIM-I. The protective activities against $\gamma$ -irradiation were compared among HemoHIM, HIM-I and the fractions. HemoHIM and HIM-I significantly decreased the radiation-induced DNA damage in vitro, and scavenged hydroxyl radicals in a dose-dependent manner. HemoHIM showed similar activity to HIM-I. In vitro proliferation assay with mouse lymphocytes and bone marrow cells showed that HIM-I-P was remarkably higher than HIM-I and HIM-I-E in cell proliferating activity. HemoHIM showed higher activity than HIM-I and this might be associated with the higher polysaccharide content. The in vivo protective effects of HemoHIM and HIM-I were investigated in $\gamma$-irradiated mice. HemoHIM increased the surviving intestinal crypts to a similar extent compared with HIM-I. In contrast, HemoHIM appeared to be more effective than HIM-I in endogenous spleen colony formation assay. The recovery of white blood cells and lymphocytes in irradiated mice were significantly enhanced by the administration of HemoHIM. Also HemoHIM administration prolonged the survival of irradiated mice. These results showed that the novel herbal preparation, HemoHIM, effectively protected the self-renewal tissues and immune system, and promoted the survival of irradiated mice. Moreover, in comparison with HIM-I, HemoHIM maintained similar activity in the reduction of oxidative damage of self-renewal tissue but exhibited the higher activity in protection and proliferation of immune and hematopoietic cells. These results suggested that HemoHIM might be more effective than HIM-I in immune modulation as well as radioprotection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1026-1038
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• 1995

Although aloe lost a lot of its previous popularity in modern clinical uses as medicine numerous scientific researches still have claimed the beneficial properties(curing and general tonic effect) of aloe gel. Whereas considerable contradictory reports have helped to confuse the aloe gel issue and continually aroused controversy about aloe gel efficacy. However health food, cosmetic and medicinal products made from aloe gel are widely available in the world market especially in U.S.A. so the growing of Aloe plant and the processing of A. vera gel have become big industries in some countries. In some previous papers the salicylic acid, one of the common trace gel components, was thought to have an analgetic and antinflammatory effect. Large amount of Mg ion in the gel was suggested to act as anesthetic, Mg-lactate as antihistamic, and Aloctin A(a glycoprotein) as wound healer by promoting the cell growth. The carboxypeptidase and bradykinase activity in the gel were proposed to have the pain relieving and antiinflammatory effect. But any of thes etheories concerining the physiological action of the trace gel components has not been demonstrated by modern pharmacology, and failed to be supported by clinical research. It was suggested by some research workers that trace amount of anthraquinone compounds in the gel play an important role to act as false substrate inhibitors for PG and TX production(antiprostanoid effect), by which, they believed, inflammation, burn and frostbite, and infected wound could be healed. This hypothesis has not been substantiated. Butthe suggested antimicrobial action, antidiabetic, and antidotic effect of aloe gel are likely to be attributed to the trace anthraquinone compounds. In a lot of recent experimental reports it has been claimed that aloe gel polysaccharides(acetylglucomannan, acetylmannan, and glycoprotein) have the antimicrobial, antinflammatory, antitumour, and infected wound healing effect by immunoenhancement. It is hoped that these effects will be soon documented in clinical studies, then the controversy on aloe gel beneficial effect will cease. In the 30 days subchronic toxicity test the lowest observed adverse effect level of acemannan(acetylmannan) on dog was 5.0 mg/kg, IP. But the aloe gel is generally agreed to be harmless and non toxic even for the internal use such as health food. In the case of idiosynrasy one must keep the delayed type hypersensitivity reaction of aloe gel in mind. In conclusion it seem to be impossible to simply refuse a lot of evidences made by research workers who have claimed aloe gel's beneficial effects and to deny the fact that there had been long therapeutic histories of Aloe plants.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.119-122
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• 2004

It is well known that unidentified factors in sera, hormones and growth factors promote the proliferation of granulosa cells and nuclear maturation of bovine COCs in vitro. Attemps had been developed the simple composition of culture media and similar system to in vivo conditions has been applied. In the present study, we investigated the effect of TGF-${\beta}$ on in vitro maturation and in vitro development of Hanwoo COCs. When the COCs were matured in TCM 199 containing 0.1, 1 or 10 ng/ml TGF-${\beta}$ for 24 hrs, metaphaseⅡ of COCs were obtained 95.8%, 100% of matured COCs, respectively and there were no differences among the concentrations of TGF-${\beta}$. Matured COCs with TGF-${\beta}$ cultured in maturation medium after in vitro fertilization, developmental rate to blastocyst were 0~0.8%. Matured COCs with TGF-${\beta}$ were cultured in TCM 199+10% FBS, 0.8% BSA, 0.1% PVA, blastocyst formation were showed in 12.4%, 12.8%, 8.5% of those and cultured in IVMD or IVD without serum were 38.4%, 34.8%, respectively. There were significant differences among the media (P<0.05). TGF-${\beta}$ is available for i vitro maturation of bovine COCs, but further investigation would be need for finding the synergistic autocrine/paracrine fashion of other growth factors in early bovine development.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.175-186
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• 1997

Purpose : To evaluate the qualitative immunologic changes by ionizing radiation. we studied the altered capacities of the macrophages and lymphocytes to produce cytokines in conjunction with resistance to Listeria monocytegenes (LM) infection in mice Materials and Methods : BALB/c mice and Listeria monocytogenes were used. The mice were infected intraperitoneally with $10^5LM$ at 1 day after irradiation (300cGy) and sacrificed at 1, 3, 5 days after infection, and then the numbers of viable LM per spleen in the irradiated and control group were counted. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-\alpha$), interferon-gamma ($IFN-\gamma$). interleukin-2 (IL-2), and nitric oxide (NO) were assessed after irradiation. Results : Under gamma-ray irradiation with a dose range of 100-850cGy, the number of total splenocytes decreased markedly in a dose-dependent manner, while peritoneal macrophages did so slightly Cultured peritoneal macrophages produced more $TNF-\alpha$ in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) during the 24 hours after in vitro irradiation, but their capacity of $TNF-\alpha$ Production showed a decreased tendency at 5 days after in vivo total body irradiation. With 100cGy and 300cGy irradiation, cultured peritoneal macrophages produced more NO in the presence of LPS during the 24 hours after in vitro irradiation than without irradiation. Activated splenocytes from irradiated mice (300cGy) exhibited a decreased capacity to Produce IL-2 and $IFN-\gamma$ with Concavalin-A stimulation at 3 days after irradiation. When BALB/c mice were irradiated to the total body with a dose of 300cGy, they showed enhanced resistance during early innate phase, but a significant inhibition of resistance to LM was found in the late innate and acquired T-cell dependent phases. Conclusion : These results su99es1 that increased early innate and decreased late innate and acquired immunity to LM infection by ionizing radiation (300cGy) may be related to the biphasic altered capacity of the macrophages to produce $TNF-\alpha$ and the decreased capacities of the lymphocytes to produce IL-2 and $IFN-\gamma$ in addition to a marked decrease in the total number of cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.641-649
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• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. (PJT) powder on lipid metabolism and antioxidative activity in rats fed a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet for 4 weeks. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to four groups: normal diet group (N), high-fat/high-cholesterol group (HFC), high-fat/highcholesterol with 5% PJT powder (HFC-PBL), and high-fat/high-cholesterol with 10% PJT powder (HFC-PBH). Body weight gain and food efficiency ratio (FER) increased in the HFC group, whereas they gradually decreased in the PJT powder-fed groups. Food intake was not significantly different between the experimental groups. Liver and adipose tissue weights of the HFC group were heavier than that of the N group, whereas the groups fed PJT powder showed gradual reduction of tissue weights. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity significantly decreased after PJT powder administration. Serum triglyceride level significantly decreased in groups fed PJT powder compared to the HFC group. The serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) level of the HFC group increased by 73.70% than that of the N group, whereas serum high density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol) tended to decrease in groups fed PJT powder compared to the HFC group. Levels of triglycerides in epididymal and mesenteric adipose tissues, as well as cholesterol levels in liver and adipose tissues were lower in the groups fed 10% PJT powder compared to the HFC group. The liver glutathione (GSH) level increased in the groups fed PJT powder compare to the HFC group. The liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content significantly decreased in the groups fed PJT powder compared to the HFC group. These results suggest that PJT powder may improve lipid metabolism in the serum, liver, and adipose tissue and prevent oxidative stress by stimulating antioxidative systems in rats fed a high fat-high cholesterol diet.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.594-602
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• 2009

Purpose : Transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ reportedly increases neuronal survival by inhibiting the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in astrocytes and protecting neurons after excitotoxic injury. However, the neuroprotective mechanism of $TGF-{\beta}1$ on hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury in neonatal rats is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine whether $TGF-{\beta}1$ has neuroprotective effects via a NO-mediated mechanism and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor modulation on perinatal HI brain injury. Methods : Cortical cells were cultured using 19-day-pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with $TGF-{\beta}1$ (1, 5, or 10 ng/mL) and incubated in a 1% O2 incubator for hypoxia. Seven-day-old SD rat pups were subjected to left carotid occlusion followed by 2 h of hypoxic exposure (7.5% $O_2$). $TGF-{\beta}1$ (0.5 ng/kg) was administered intracerebrally to the rats 30 min before HI brain injury. The expressions of NOS and NMDA receptors were measured. Results : In the in vitro model, the expressions of endothelial NOS (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) increased in the hypoxic group and decreased in the 1 ng/mL $TGF-{\beta}1-treated$ group. In the in vivo model, the expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) decreased in the hypoxia group and increased in the $TGF-{\beta}1$-treated group. The expressions of eNOS and nNOS were reversed compared with the expression of iNOS. The expressions of all NMDA receptor subunits decreased in hypoxia group and increased in the $TGF-{\beta}1$-treated group except NR2C. Conclusion : The administration of $TGF-{\beta}1$ could significantly protect against perinatal HI brain injury via some parts of the NO-mediated or excitotoxic mechanism.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.111-112
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• 2009

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) is a convenient term to indicate the compositions of the various forms of amorphous carbon (a-C), tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C), hydrogenated amorphous carbon and tetrahedral amorphous carbon (a-C:H and ta-C:H). The a-C film with disordered graphitic ordering, such as soot, chars, glassy carbon, and evaporated a-C, is shown in the lower left hand corner. If the fraction of sp3 bonding reaches a high degree, such an a-C is denoted as tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C), in order to distinguish it from sp2 a-C [2]. Two hydrocarbon polymers, that is, polyethylene (CH2)n and polyacetylene (CH)n, define the limits of the triangle in the right hand corner beyond which interconnecting C-C networks do not form, and only strait-chain molecules are formed. The DLC films, i.e. a-C, ta-C, a-C:H and ta-C:H, have some extreme properties similar to diamond, such as hardness, elastic modulus and chemical inertness. These films are great advantages for many applications. One of the most important applications of the carbon-based films is the coating for magnetic hard disk recording. The second successful application is wear protective and antireflective films for IR windows. The third application is wear protection of bearings and sliding friction parts. The fourth is precision gages for the automotive industry. Recently, exciting ongoing study [1] tries to deposit a carbon-based protective film on engine parts (e.g. engine cylinders and pistons) taking into account not only low friction and wear, but also self lubricating properties. Reduction of the oil consumption is expected. Currently, for an additional application field, the carbon-based films are extensively studied as excellent candidates for biocompatible films on biomedical implants. The carbon-based films consist of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, which are biologically harmless as well as the main elements of human body. Some in vitro and limited in vivo studies on the biological effects of carbon-based films have been studied [$2{\sim}5$].The carbon-based films have great potentials in many fields. However, a few technological issues for carbon-based film are still needed to be studied to improve the applicability. Aisenberg and Chabot [3] firstly prepared an amorphous carbon film on substrates remained at room temperature using a beam of carbon ions produced using argon plasma. Spencer et al. [4] had subsequently developed this field. Many deposition techniques for DLC films have been developed to increase the fraction of sp3 bonding in the films. The a-C films have been prepared by a variety of deposition methods such as ion plating, DC or RF sputtering, RF or DC plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), electron cyclotron resonance chemical vapor deposition (ECR-CVD), ion implantation, ablation, pulsed laser deposition and cathodic arc deposition, from a variety of carbon target or gaseous sources materials [5]. Sputtering is the most common deposition method for a-C film. Deposited films by these plasma methods, such as plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) [6], are ranged into the interior of the triangle. Application fields of DLC films investigated from papers. Many papers purposed to apply for tribology due to the carbon-based films of low friction and wear resistance. Figure 1 shows the percentage of DLC research interest for application field. The biggest portion is tribology field. It is occupied 57%. Second, biomedical field hold 14%. Nowadays, biomedical field is took notice in many countries and significantly increased the research papers. DLC films actually applied to many industries in 2005 as shown figure 2. The most applied fields are mold and machinery industries. It took over 50%. The automobile industry is more and more increase application parts. In the near future, automobile industry is expected a big market for DLC coating. Figure 1 Research interests of carbon-based filmsFigure 2 Demand ratio of DLC coating for industry in 2005. In this presentation, I will introduce a trend of carbon-based coating research and applications.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.625-636
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• 2005

This study was conducted to determine effects of different ratios (3.5, 3.0 and 2.5) of nonfibrous carbohydrate (NFC) to ruminally degradable protein (RDP) on in vitro fermentation and lactation performance of dairy cows and optimum ratio of NFC to RDP in dairy rations. In vitro trial was conducted up to 12 hr with ruminal fluidtaken from ruminally cannulated Holstein cows. The level of dietary NFC did not affect ruminal pH. The ammonia-N concentration was not significantly different among treatments until 6 hr incubation, however, it was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased as the ratio of dietary NFC to RDP increased on 9 and 12 hr incubation. For volatile fatty acids, concentrations of both acetate and propionate were significantly (P < 0.05) increased on 3 hr incubation as dietary NFC contents of treatments increased, in other incubation times, they had no significant differences among treatments. Valerate and A:P ratio were not affected by the ratio of NFC to RDP. Isoacids and total VFAs were significantly (P < 0.05) increased with increasing dietary NFC contents and their values were highest in the treatment of 3.0 ratio. Meanwhile, for in vivo trial, 18 Holstein lactating cows were allotted to treatments in three groups of 6 cows. They were employed for 24 weeks to investigate nutrient intakes, and milk yield and composition according to different ratios of dietary NFC to RDP. Intakes of dry matter and energy were significantly (P < 0.01) increased, but NDF intake was significantly (P < 0.01) decreased as the ratio of dietary NFC to RDP increased. Milk yield for the ratio of 3.5 (32.7 kg) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of other treatments. Milk fat (%) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for the treatments of 3.0 (3.79 %) and 2.5 (3.79 %) than that (3.48 %) for the ratio of 3.5, but milk fat yield was not different among treatments. Contents and yields for milk protein and solids-not fat were linearly (P < 0.01) increased as the ratio of dietary NFC to RDP increased. However, milk urea nitrogen concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with increasing dietary NFC levels. Our results showed that the increasing level of NFC in the diet of dairy cows enhanced ruminal fermentation, N utilization and milk production and suggested that maximal fermentation and lactation performance were achieved when the dietary ratio of NFC to RDP was more than 3.0 in dairy rations.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.25 no.1 s.37
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• pp.13-25
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• 1992

This study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of protective effect by sodium selenite in methylmercuric chloride neurotoxicity, increasing intracellular $Ca^{2+}$concentration of the neuron. Methylmercuric chloride of 3mg/kg of body weight was administered simultaneously with sodium selenite of 5mg/kg and pretreatment of sodium selenite via intraperitoneal injection to rats. Also, effect of methylmercuric chloride($25{\mu}M,\;50{\mu}M,\;100{\mu}M$) and sodium selenite($200{\mu}M$) on free intrasynaptosomal $Ca^{2+}$ concentration were studied using the fluorescent $Ca^{2+}$ indicator fura -2 in vitro. After the treatment, at 6, 24, and 48 hours later, mercury in the cerebral cortex, liver and kidney tissues, succlnic dehydrogenase activities, adenosin-5'-triphosphate concentration, acetylcholinesterase activities, and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in the cerebral cortex were determined in vivo. Cerebral synaptosomes of rats were incubated with methylmercuric chloride and sodium selenite in Hepes buffer for 10 minutes and free intrasynaptosomal $Ca^{2+}$ concentration were measured with fura-2 in vitro. The results were summarized as follows ; 1. The combined administration of $CH_3HgCl$ and $Na_2SeO_3$ and pretreatment of $Na_2SeO_3$ according to time significantly more increased in the cerebral cortex and decreased in the liver, kidney mercury concentrations compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. 2. The combined administration of $CH_3HgCl$ and $Na_2SeO_3$ and pretreatment of $Na_2SeO_3$ increased more succinic dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase activities compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. Particularly pretreatment of $Na_2SeO_3$ significantly more compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. The concentration of adenosine-5'-triphosphate in $Na_2SeO_3$ treatment groups revealed a favourable effect compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. 3. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only was increased significantly more than control group in all test hours but was increased significantly more at 48 hours only after treatment in combined administration of $CH_3HgCl$ and $Na_2SeO_3$ and pretreatment of $Na_2SeO_3$ according to time interval more decreased significantly intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. 4. Free intrasynaptosomal $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in the combined administration of $CH_3HgCl$ and $Na_2SeO_3$ was decreased ($24%{\sim}40%$) significantly more than the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. From the above results, the specific dosage of $Na_2SeO_3$ decreased increment of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration induced by administration of $CH_3HgCl$. These findings suggest the protective mechanism of $Na_2SeO_3$ on the neurotoxicity of $CH_3HgCl$.