• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.581-589
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• 2009

The water extract of Dohongsamul-tang(DHSMT) has been traditionally used in treatment of ischemic heart and brain diseases in Oriental Medicine. However, little is known about the mechanism by which DHSMT protects C6 glial cells from glucose deprevation induced damages. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of DHSMT on 2-deoxy-D-glucose induced autophagy of C6 glial cells. Autophagic phenotype is evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry with specific biological staining dyes, including monodansylcadaverine and acridine orange, as well as Western blot analysis with microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3) and Beclin-1. Treatment with 2-deoxy-D-glucose significantly resulted in a decrease of the viability of C6 glial cells and increase of the extracellular LDH release in a dose and time-dependent manner. However, pretreatment with DHSMT protected C6 glial cells from glucose deprivation with 2-deoxy-D-glucose. The author also observed the fact that autophagy phenotype occurred by 2-deoxy-D-glucose in C6 glial cells. Pretreatment with 3-MA, a pharmacological inhibitior of autophagy, abolished the formation of acidic vesicle organelle in C6 glial cells treated with 2-deoxy-D-glucose. However, pretreatment with DHSMT inhibited the formation of autophagic phenotypes, including formation of acidic vesicle organelle, and increase of the expression of LC-3 II Beclin-1 proteins in C6 glial cells treated with 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Taken together, these data suggest that DHSMT is able to protect C6 glial cells from glucose deprivation with marked inhibition of autophagy formation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.639-644
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• 2009

The aim of this study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of Rhizoma Dioscoreae on the gastric mucosal lesions induced by alcohol in rats. Experimental groups were treated by oral infusion with Rhizoma Dioscoreae extract at the dose of 0.03465 g/ml(OA-RD1 group), 0.0693 g/ml(OA-RD2 group), and 0.1386 g/ml(OA-RD3 group), while D.W group was administrated with the distilled water and control group did not pretreated. Experimental groups pretreated for 14 days, and given orally 1 ml of 75% alcohol two times(30min interval). The animals were killed 1hr 30min after alcohol treatment, and measured rats body weight, absolute stomach weight, relative stomach weight, SOD activity, glutathione peroxidase(GPx) activity, observed gastric mucosal lesions. The body weight was unremarkable changed. In once as dose intake group's absolute stomach weight was increased and In once as dose intake group, twice as dose intake group's relative stomach weight was increased. SOD activity, glutathione peroxidase activity in twice as dose intake group is remarkably increased. Light microscopy Observations of congestion, hemorrhage, and erosion in gastric mucosal lesions were shown severely in control group than OA-RD1, OA-RD2, OA-RD3. These results suggest that the proposed gastroprotective effect may involve activation of antioxidant effect. And Twice as dose is especially effective.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to assess the cytotoxic effects of various concentrations of miltefosine on Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) and L. tropica (MHOM/IR/02/Mash10) promastigotes and to observe the programmed cell death features. The colorimetric MTT assay was used to find L. major and L. tropica viability and the obtained results were expressed as 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50). Also, 50% effective doses (ED50) for L. major and L. tropica amastigotes were also determined, Annexin-V FLUOS staining was performed to study the cell death properties of miltefosine using FAGS analysis. Qualitative analysis of the total genomic DNA fragmentation was performed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, to observe changes in cell morphology, promastigotes were examined using light microscopy. In both strains of L. major and L. tropica, miltefosine induced dose-dependent death with features of apoptosis, including cell shrinkage, DNA laddering, and externalization of phosphatidylserine. The IC50 was achieved at 22 ${\mu}M$ and 11 ${\mu}M$ for L. major and L. tropica after 48 hr of incubation, respectively. ED50 of L. major and L. tropica amastigotes were 5.7 ${\mu}M$ and 4.2 ${\mu}M$, respectively. Our results indicate that miltefosine induces apoptosis of the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, L. major did not display any apoptotic changes when it was exposed to miltefosine in concentrations sufficient to kill L. tropica.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2011

The infection status of marine fish and cephalopods with Anisakis simplex third stage larva (L3) was studied over a period of 1 year. A total of 2,537 specimens, which consisted of 40 species of fish and 3 species of cephalopods, were purchased from the Cooperative Fish Market in Busan, Korea, from August 2006 to July 2007. They were examined for A. simplex L3 from the whole body cavity, viscera, and muscles. A. simplex L3 were confirmed by light microscopy. The overall infection rate reached 34.3%, and average 17.1 larvae were parasitized per infected fish. Fish that recorded the highest infection rate was Lophiomus setigerus (100%), followed by Liparis tessellates (90%), Pleurogrammus azonus (90%), and Scomber japonicus (88.7%). The intensity of infection was the highest in Gadus macrocephalus (117.7 larvae per fish), followed by S. japonicus (103.9 larvae) and L. setigerus (54.2 larvae). Although abundance of A. simplex L3 was not seasonal in most of the fish species, 10 of the 16 selected species showed the highest abundance in February and April. A positive correlation between the intensity of L3 infection and the fish length was obvious in S. japonicus and G. macrocephalus. It was likely that A. simplex L3 are more frequently infected during the spring season in some species of fish. Our study revealed that eating raw or undercooked fish or cephalopods could still be a source of human infection with A. simplex L3 in Korea.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2004

Purpose : This study evaluated the effect of VEGF in the arterial anastomosis by using light and electron microscopy. Marerials and method : Rats underwent femoral arterial end-to-end anastomosis after transection and topical VEGF treatment. The proximal and distal segments of the femoral arteries was drenched with 1 drop of VEGF $(100ng/100{\mu}l/bottle)$. and when half of the repair was finished, the other 1 drop was drenched and then the repair was continued to complete the anastomosis. Gross and histologic characteristics of arterial wall were assessed after 3 days, 1, 3 and 5 weeks. In the control group, normal saline solution instead of VEGF was dropped with the same method in the anastomosis. Results : The histologic findings of the arterial wall were the vascular remodeling with the infiltration of inflammatory cells at early stages and the tissue fibrosis at lately stages in the anastomotic sites of the control and the VEGF-treated groups. The scanning electron microscopic results were; (1) the anastomotic sites were covered by many irregular cells with long cytoplasmic processes at the early stages. (2) After 1 week, endothelial cells started to cover the anastomotic sites. (3) After 3 weeks, the anastomotic sites were partially covered by endothelial cells in the control group. (4) After 5 weeks, the anastomotic sites were completely covered by endothelial cells in the control and VEGF-treated groups. (5) In the VEGF-treated group, the anastomotic site was completely covered by endothelial cells which directed parallel to longitudinal axis of arteries after 3 weeks. Conclusion : Topical VEGF maintained luminal integrity by decreasing fibrosis and increasing re-endothelialization. These findings suggest that topical VEGF may be a promising new strategy to enhance healing and improve the outcome of vascular anastomosis.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.727-731
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• 2013

In this study, green barium strontium silicate phosphor ($BaSrSiO_4:Eu^{3+}$, $Eu^{2+}$) was synthesized using a solid-state reaction method in air and reducing atmosphere. Investigation of the firing temperature indicates that a single phase of $BaSrSiO_4$ is formed when the firing temperature is higher than $1400^{\circ}C$. The effect of firing temperature and doping concentration on luminescent properties are investigated. The light-emitting property was the best when the molar content of $Eu_2O_3$ was 0.025 mol. Also, the luminescent brightness of the $BaSrSiO_4$ fluorescent substance was the best when the particle size of the barium was $0.5{\mu}m$. $BaSrSiO_4$ phosphors exhibit the typical green luminescent properties of $Eu^{3+}$ and $Eu^{2+}$. The characteristics of the synthesized $BaSrSiO_4:Eu^{3+}$, $Eu^{2+}$ phosphor were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy. The maximum emission band of the $BaSrSiO_4:Eu^{3+}$, $Eu^{2+}$ was 520 nm.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.288-298
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• 2014

We examined the efficacy of a bacterium for biocontrol of the root-knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne hapla in carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Among 542 bacterial isolates from various soils and plants, the highest nematode mortality was observed for treatments with isolate C1-7, which was identified as Bacillus cereus based on cultural and morphological characteristics, the Biolog program, and 16S rRNA sequencing analyses. The population density and the nematicidal activity of B. cereus C1-7 remained high until the end of culture in brain heart infusion broth, suggesting that it may have sustainable biocontrol potential. In pot experiments, the biocontrol efficacy of B. cereus C1-7 was high, showing complete inhibition of root gall or egg mass formation by RKN in carrot and tomato plants, and subsequently reducing RKN damage and suppressing nematode population growth, respectively. Light microscopy of RKN-infected carrot root tissues treated with C1-7 showed reduced formation of gall cells and fully developed giant cells, while extensive gall cells and fully mature giant cells with prominent cell wall ingrowths formed in the untreated control plants infected with RKNs. These histopathological characteristics may be the result of residual or systemic biocontrol activity of the bacterium, which may coincide with the biocontrol efficacies of nematodes in pots. These results suggest that B. cereus C1-7 can be used as a biocontrol agent for M. hapla.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2013

One of the most important limiting factors for the production of the grafted cactus in Korea is the qualitative and quantitative yield loss derived from stem rots especially caused by Bipolaris cactivora. This study is aimed to develop microbial control agents useful for the control of the bipolaris stem rot. Two bacteria (GA1-23 and GA4-4) selected out of 943 microbial isolates because of their strong antibiotic activity against B. cactivora were identified as Bacillus subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens, respectively, by the cultural characteristics, Biolog program and 16S rRNA sequencing analyses. Both bacterial isolates significantly inhibited the conidial germination and mycelial growth of the pathogen with no significant difference between the two, of which the inhibitory efficacies varied depending on the cultural conditions such as temperature, nutritional compositions and concentrations. Light and electron microscopy of the pathogen treated with the bacterial isolates showed the inhibition of spore germination with initial malformation of germ tubes and later formation of circle-like vesicles with no hyphal growth and hyphal disruption sometimes accompanied by hyphal swellings and shrinkages adjacent to the bacteria, suggesting their antibiotic mode of antagonistic activity. Control efficacy of B. subtilis GA1-23 and B. amyloliquefaciens GA4-4 on the cactus stem rot were not as high as but comparable to that of fungicide difenoconazole when they were treated simultaneously at the time of pathogen inoculation. All of these results suggest the two bacterial isolates have a good potential to be developed as biocontrol agents for the bipolaris stem rot of the grafted cactus.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.77-84
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• 2011

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to determine the enhancing effect of iontophoresis method as it transdermally deliver methylene blue (MB) using visual examination, in terms of penetration depth and tissue distribution in the skin, and to determine the effect of application duration on the efficacy of iontophoresis. Methods: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5-, 10-, 20-, and 40-minute groups. These rats were exposed to either topical or anodic iontophoresis of 1% MB using a direct current of $0.5mA/cm^2$ for 5, 10, 20, and 40 minutes. Using cryosections of rat tissues, the penetration depth of MB was measured using light microscopy. Results: Significant differences in the penetration depth (F=54.20, p<0.001) were detected among the four groups. Post hoc comparisons of the penetration depth of MB data pooled across groups showed no significant difference between all topical application groups and 5-minute iontophoresis group, but did reveal a significant difference in the penetration depth between all topical application groups and 5-minute iontophoresis group versus 10-minute group, between the 10-minute and 20-minute group, and between the 20-minute and 40-minute iontophoresis group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results demonstrate that iontophoresis enhances transdermal delivery of MB across stratum corneum of skin barrier by visual examination. Furthermore, the penetration depth of iontophoretic transdermal delivery of MB was dependent on the application duration. The duration of iontophoresis is one of the important factor in the efficacy of iontophoresis application.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2004

The present study was undertaken to investigate the infection status of Cryptosporidium parvum in the villagers and the reservoir hosts in several rural areas in Korea. A total 5,262 fecal samples were collected from the inhabitants residing at Gangwon-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, Jeollanam-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do between the dates of September, 2001 to June, 2002. In addition, 1,453 fecal samples were collected from livestock reared in Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do and Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. All the fecal smears were prepared by formalin-ether sedimentation, and examined by light microscopy after modified acid-fast staining. The overall positive rate of human cryptosporidiosis was 3.3%. Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do showed a 8.2% positive rate and appeared as the highest endemic area among the surveyed areas. Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do showed a 0.4% positive rate and was the lowest endemic area. The positive rate of livestock infection in Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do was 94%, which was more than ten times higher than that of Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do (9.3%). From these results, it was revealed that cryptosporidiosis was an endemic disease in some rural areas of Korea, and the livestock could be an important source of human infection.