• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.421-430
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• 2004

Clinically, it is almost impossible for a physician to distinguish subtle changes of frequency spectrum by using a stethoscope alone especially in the early stage of thrombus formation. Considering that reliability of mechanical valve is paramount because the failure might end up with patient death, early detection of valve thrombus using noninvasive technique is important. Thus the study was designed to provide a tool for early noninvasive detection of valve thrombus by observing shift of frequency spectrum of acoustic signals with computer aid diagnosis system. A thrombus model was constructed on commercialized mechanical valves using polyurethane or silicon. Polyurethane coating was made on the valve surface, and silicon coating on the sewing ring of the valve. To simulate pannus formation, which is fibrous tissue overgrowth obstructing the valve orifice, the degree of silicone coating on the sewing ring varied from 20％, 40％, 60％ of orifice obstruction. In experiment system, acoustic signals from the valve were measured using microphone and amplifier. The microphone was attached to a coupler to remove environmental noise. Acoustic signals were sampled by an AID converter, frequency spectrum was obtained by the algorithm of spectral analysis. To quantitatively distinguish the frequency peak of the normal valve from that of the thrombosed valves, analysis using a neural network was employed. A return map was applied to evaluate continuous monitoring of valve motion cycle. The in-vivo data also obtained from animals with mechanical valves in circulatory devices as well as patients with mechanical valve replacement for 1 year or longer before. Each spectrum wave showed a primary and secondary peak. The secondary peak showed changes according to the thrombus model. In the mock as well as the animal study, both spectral analysis and 3-layer neural network could differentiate the normal valves from thrombosed valves. In the human study, one of 10 patients showed shift of frequency spectrum, however the presence of valve thrombus was yet to be determined. Conclusively, acoustic signal measurement can be of suggestive as a noninvasive diagnostic tool in early detection of mechanical valve thrombosis.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.29 no.2 s.43
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• pp.205-232
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• 2003

Ursolic acid (UA) and Oleanolic acid (ONA), known as urson, micromerol and malol, are pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds which naturally occur in a large number of vegetarian foods, medicinal herbs, and plants. They may occur in their free acid form or as aglycones for triterpenoid saponins, which are comprised of a triterpenoid aglycone, linked to one or more sugar moieties. Therefore UA and ONA are similar in pharmacological activity. Lately scientific research, which led to the identification of UA and ONA, revealed that several pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, hepato-protective, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, and anti-hyperlipidemic could be attributed to UA and ONA. Here, we introduced the effect of UA and ONA on acutely barrier disrupted and normal hairless mouse skin. To evaluate the effects of UA and ONA on epidermal permeability barrier recovery, both flanks of 8-12 week-old hairless mice were topically treated with either 0.01-0.1 mg/ml UA or 0.1-1 mg/ml ONA after tape stripping, and TEWL (Transepidermal water loss) was measured . The recovery rate increased in those UA or ONA treated groups (0.1 mg/ml UA and 0.5 mg/ml ONA) at 6 h more than $20\%$ compared to vehicle treated group (p<0.05). Here, we introduced the effects of UA and ONA on acute barrier disruption and normal epidermal permeability barrier function. For verifying the effects of UA and ONA on normal epidermal barrier, hydration and TEWL were measured for 1 and 3 weeks after UA and ONA applications (2mg/ml per day). We also investigated the features of epidermis and dermis using electron microscopy (EM) and light microscopy (LM). Both samples increased hydration compared to vehicle group from f week without TEWL alteration (p<0.005). EM examination using RuO4 and OsO4 fixation revealed that secretion and numbers of lamellar bodies and complete formation of lipid bilayers were most prominent $(ONA{\geq}UA>Vehicle)$. LM finding showed that thickness of stratum corneum (SC) was slightly increased and especially epidermal thickening and flattening was observed (UA>ONA>Veh). We also observed that UA and ONA stimulate epidermal keratinocyte differentiation via $PPAR\;\alpha$. Protein expression of involucrin, loricrin, and filaggrin increased at least 2 and 3 fold in HaCaT cells treated with either $ONA\;(10{\mu}M)$ or UA $(10{\mu}M)$ for 24h respectively. This result suggested that the UA and ONA can improve epidermal permeability barrier function and induce the epidermal keratinocyte differentiation via $PPAR\;{\alpha}$. Using Masson-trichrome and elastic fiber staining, we observed collagen thickening and elastic fiber elongation by UA and ONA treatments. In vitro results of collagen and elastin synthesis and elastase inhibitory activity measurements were also confirmed in vivo findings. These data suggested that the effects of UA and ONA related to not only epidermal permeability barrier functions but also dermal collagen and elastic fiber synthesis. Taken together, UA and ONA can be relevant candidates to improve epidermal and dermal functions and pertinent agents for cosmeseutical applications.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.264-275
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• 2014

This study evaluated the improving efficacy of Lespedeza cuneata ethanol extract on skin photoaging induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of the extract were respectively $134.98{\pm}1.70$ and $16.20{\pm}0.05$ mg/g, respectively. The superoxide anion radical scavenging activity and electron-donating ability of the extract were shown to be dependent on concentration, and the antioxidant ability was shown to be more effective in superoxide anion radical scavenging activity than in electron-donating ability under the same concentration conditions. In the in vivo test conducted using hairless mouse with skin photoaging induced by UVB irradiation, the skin erythema of the groups treated with the extract (AS) reduced to 28% of the control, and the skin moisture content increased to 131%.. The extract treatment of the UV-damaged skin improved the morphological and histopathological state of the skin. Furthermore, the SOD, GST and CAT activities in the skin tissue of the AS group increased, and the XO activity and TBARS generation decreased. With regard to the genes related to the photoaging skin, the expression of PAK, p38, c-Fos, c-Jun, TNF-${\alpha}$ and MMP-3 in the skin of the AS group were found to have decreased. It was therefore concluded that Lespedeza cuneata ethanol extract can reduce wrinkle formation in the skin due to the regulation of the gene expression caused by the exposure to UVB light.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1149-1157
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• 2017

Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation in our body. The use of medicinal plants has been widely applied as an alternative source for drug development. One of marine natural resources, the anti-inflammatory effect of Ishige sinicola ethanol extract (ISEE), was evaluated by using LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell and mice model. As a result, the production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$) were inhibited with increasing concentration of ISEE without any cytotoxicity. Furthermore, ISEE suppressed the expression of not only inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) p65, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in a dose-dependent manner. In mice ear edema test, the formation of edema was reduced at the highest dosage of ISEE and the reduction of the number of infiltrated mast cells was observed in histological analysis. These results indicate that ISEE has a potent anti-inflammatory activity and can be used as a pharmaceutical material for many kinds of inflammatory disease.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.636-641
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• 2005

Mulberry leaves, high in dietary fiber and some nutritional materials, are thought to have hypocholesterolemic effect. Therefore, effect of mulberry leaf powder on serum lipid profiles were studied using rats with diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed AIN-93 diet (control group), and diets containing high-cholesterol and 0% mulberry leaves powder, high-cholesterol and 5% mulberry leaves powder, and high-cholesterol and 10% mulberry leaves powder for 4 weeks. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by adding 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid to all diets except in control group. Although no differences were observed in food intake and initial body weight among groups, mulberry leaf treatment resulted in significant decreases in food efficiency ratio and body weight gain. Mulberry leaf treatment decreased serum lipid profiles, atherogenic index, cardiac risk factor, low density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, serum aspartate transaminase, and liver lipid levels. High density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, serum HDL-cholesterol, and fecal lipid levels increased, suggesting mulberry leaves could improve hyperlipidemia and liver action, thereby proventing cardiovascular disease.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.137-157
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• 1993

This study was carried out to investigate the optimal condition for multiple propagation through leaf tissue culture and to apply anther culture techniques to Pulsatilla koreana Nakai breeding. Leaf and anther of Pulsatilla koreana Nakai were cultured on MS, MT, LS and $B_5$ media supplemented with several growth regulators and nitrogen sources under various conditions. For callus induction and differentiation from the Pulsatilla koreana leaf segments were more effective in the combination of zeatin and auxin than auxin alone. The color of the callus was green when treated with IBA alone. Shoot differentiation was more effective when treated with zeatin than auxin alone, especially the best hormoal combination for shoot differentiation was zeatin 1.0mg/l +NAA 0.1mg/l, while 2,4-D inhibited shoot differentiation. The appeared rate of S pollen was 35% in vivo, while that of S pollen by low temperature$(4^{\circ}C)$ pretreatment for 4 days was increased by 53% and the optimum culture time for callus induction from anther was uni-nucleate stage. $B_5$ basal medium supplemented with NAA 0.5mg/l and zeatin 1 mg/l was the most effective on callus formation and the best results of plant regeneration were obtained from combination of NAA 0.5mg/l and zeatin 0.5mg/l in anther culture. $NH_{4}NO_3$ as more effectives as the nitrogen source than $KNO_3$ and the combination with zeatin 2.0mg /L was the best effective. The best combination for plant regeneration in callus induced from anther was $NH_{4}NO_3$ 1650mg/l + $KNO_3$ 3800mg/l + zeatin 2.0mg/l. Ploidy level of anther-derived plants appeared 28% haploid, 47% diploid and the others were triploid, tetraploid and mixploid. In compare with E.S.T, M.D.H and P.X banding patterns were distinguished among callus, haploid and diploid plants in electrophoresis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.542-550
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• 2003

Background : Synthetic glucocorticoids are widely used in many chronic inflammatory diseases because of their excellent anti-inflammatory activity. Enhancing the transcription of $I{\kappa}B$ and preventing activated NF-${\kappa}B$ from binding to ${\kappa}B$ sites are thought to be the underlying mechanisms. But these data are largely derived from in vitro studies using cell lines. In this study, after administrating a steroid to volunteers, we evaluated the effect on the NF-${\kappa}B$ system. Methods : Prednisolone(0.5mg/kg/d) was orally administered to 5 healthy volunteers for 7 days. Before and after the administration, we sampled their peripheral blood monocytes, and performed western blot analysis both with stimulation, using IL-$1{\beta}$, LPS, TNF, and without stimulation(baseline). We also performed EMSA after stimulation with LPS. Results : After ingestion of the steroid, baseline expressions of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ were increased in two of the subjects, while suppressed degradations of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ to stimulations were observed in all five. In addition, the binding capacity of NF-${\kappa}B$ after the administration was decreased. Conclusion : Steroid plays such roles as enhancing the transcription of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, suppressing the DNA binding capacity of NF-${\kappa}B$, and suppressing the degradation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1533-1543
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• 2016

The anti-stress effects of Punica granatum L. (family Lythraceae, PG) on $H_2O_2$/corticosterone (CORT)-induced stress in cells and sleep-deprived rats were investigated. The PG extract showed neuroprotective effects in SH-SY5Y cells against $H_2O_2$/CORT-induced stress. Sleep deprivation led to behavioral, hormonal, and biochemical alterations in the animal model. The effects of P. granatum on physiological, behavioral, and biochemical parameters aggravated by sleep deprivation were investigated. Sleep deprivation impaired physiological (survival, body weight, and drowsiness scores) and behavioral (rotarod, passive avoidance, hot hyperalgesia, and Y maze) parameters as well as biochemical factors (cortisol, serotonin, dopamine, testosterone, and growth factor I contents in serum). These parameters were significantly recovered by PG extract in a concentration-dependent manner. The PG extract also enhanced catalase, superoxide dismutase, and non-enzymatic antioxidative activities such as glutathione compared to sleep-deprived rats. On the basis of these results, our findings suggest that Punica granatum prevents impairment of body functions induced by sleep deprivation and related oxidative damage.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.114-120
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• 2006

Anti-diabetic effects of extracts and fractions of Sasa borealis (SB), white lotus roots (LR) and leaves (LL), and their mixture were determined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and Min6 cells by investigating insulin-sensitizing activity and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, respectively. SB, LR, LL, and mixture of SB, LR, and LL (3 : 2 : 3) were extracted using 70% ethanol, and m mixture extract was fractionated by XAD-4 column chromatography with serial mixture solvents of methanol and water. Fractional extractions were utilized for anti-diabetic effect assay. SB and LR extracts increased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, but not as much as mixture of SB, LR, and LL. Significant insulin-sensitizing activities of 20 and 80% methanol fractions of SB, LR, and LL mixture extract were observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, giving 0.5 or $5\;{\mu}g/mL$ each fraction with 0.2 nM insulin to attain glucose uptake level similar to that attained by 10 nM insulin alone. Similar to pioglitazone, peroxisome proliferators-activated $receptor-{\gamma}\;(PPAR-{\gamma})$ agonist, 20 and 80% methanol fractions increased adipocytes by stimulating differentiation from fibroblasts and triglyceride synthesis. LL extract and 20, 60, and 80% methanol fractions of the mixture suppressed ${\alpha}-amylase$ activity, but did not modulate insulin secretion capacity of Min6 cells in both low and high glucose media. These data suggest 20 and 80% methanol tractions contain potential insulin sensitizers with functions similar to that of $PPAR-{\gamma}$ agonist. Crude extract of SB, LR, and LL mixture possibly improves glucose utilization by enhancing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and inhibiting carbohydrate digestion without affecting insulin secretion in vivo.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.154-158
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• 2000

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to demonstrate changes in the orientation ortho glenohumeral ligaments(GHL) in different degrees of abduction and rotation of the normal healthy individuals. Materials and Methods : Saline Magnetic Resonance(MR) arthrography of nine consecutive shoulders of normal healthy adults were checked. At that time, MR images were obtained in three different positions of abduction and external rotation($0^{\circ}C\;and\;0^{\circ},\;45^{\circ}C\;and\;25^{\circ}C,\;90^{\circ}$ and maximum, respectively). From a series of consecutive MRI, three-dimensional images were reconstructed after detecting the location of the middle glenohumeral ligament(MGHL) and the inferior glenohumeral ligament(IGHL) using workstation computer. Results : The shape of the MGHL was taken in double curved, and straight, and finally curved again in three different positions of the shoulder in sequence. On the other hand, the shape of the IGHL was obliquely positioned, and curvilinear, and finally straight and extended at lower part of the anterior surface of the humeral head. Conclusions : At $45^{\circ}$ of abduction and $25^{\circ}$ of external rotation, and at $90^{\circ}$ of abduction and maximal external rotation of the shoulder, the MGHL and the IGHL had the role of the most important static stabilizer of the glenohumeral joint repectively.