• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.163-169
• /
• 2009

Many biological systems are regulated by an intricate set of feedback loops that oscillate with a circadian rhythm of roughly 24 h. This circadian clock mediates an increase in body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol secretion early in the day. Recent studies have shown changes in the amplitude of the circadian clock in the hearts and livers of streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats. It is therefore important to examine the relationships between circadian clock genes and growth factors and their effects on diabetic phenomena in animal models as well as in human patients. In this study, we sought to determine whether diurnal variation in organ development and the regulation of metabolism, including growth and development during the juvenile period in rats, exists as a mechanism for anticipating and responding to the environment. Also, we examined the relationship between changes in growth factor expression in the liver and clock-controlled protein synthesis and turnover, which are important in cellular growth. Specifically, we assessed the expression patterns of several clock genes, including Per1, Per2, Clock, Bmal1, Cry1 and Cry2 and growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and -2 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ in rats with STZ-induced diabetes. Growth factor and clock gene expression in the liver at 1 week post-induction was clearly increased compared to the level in control rats. In contrast, the expression patterns of the genes were similar to those observed after 5 weeks in the STZ-treated rats. The increase in gene expression is likely a compensatory change in response to the obstruction of insulin function during the initial phase of induction. However, as the period of induction was extended, the expression of the compensatory genes decreased to the control level. This is likely the result of decreased insulin secretion due to the destruction of beta cells in the pancreas by STZ.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.416-423
• /
• 2010

In this study, the properties and gene expression of the lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27, LDH) isozyme were studied in angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) - known for their adaptation to the low oxygen environment of the tropics - which were acclimated to acute temperature change ($27{\pm}0.5{\rightarrow}18{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$) and dissolved oxygen (DO) change ($6{\pm}1{\rightarrow}18\;ppm$) for 2 hours. The properties of the LDH isozymes were confirmed in the native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blot analysis and enzyme activity measurement. Liver- and eye-specific Ldh-C gene were expressed in liver, eye and brain tissues. Through Western blot analysis, the LDH $A_4$ isozyme was shown to have a more cathodal mobility relative to the $B_4$ isozyme. In the liver tissue, the LDH $A_4$ isozyme increased with temperature drop while the $B_4$ isozyme decreased. The LDH $A_4$ and $C_4$ isozymes increased with DO increment, while the $B_4$ isozyme decreased. In the eye tissue, the LDH $A_4$ and B4 isozymse increased with temperature drop while the $B_4$ isozyme decreased. The LDH $A_4$ and $B_4$ isozymes increased with DO increment, but the $C_4$ isozyme and isozymes including the subunit C decreased. In the heart tissue, LDH activity increased with DO increment, as well as the LDH $B_4$ isozyme. In the brain tissue, the LDH $A_4$ and $B_4$ isozymes increased with temperature drop. The LDH $B_4$ isozyme increased with DO increment. Accordingly, since the liver- and eye-specific Ldh-C are influenced by changes in DO and the LDH $B_4$ and $C_4$ isozymes are relatively controlled in the liver and eye tissues, the $C_4$ isozyme can be considered to have a lactate oxidase function.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2008

Objective : The purpose of this report was to provide the information about activity and safety of Ojeok-san by analyzing domestic/international papers about Ojeok-san. Methods : Domestic/international papers related to Ojeok-san were reviewed and analyzed. These papers were then classified by year, experimental method and subject. Results : The following results were obtained in this study. 1. The studies of Ojeok-san started from 1984 and has continuously increased. The studies were mainly focused on experimental models rather than clinical studies. 2. By subject, papers related to safety were most common with 5 papers among 20 papers. Besides there were papers related to efficacy of analgesic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-blood stasis and treatment for uterine myoma. 3. The papers related to safety were mainly focused on the effect of Okeok-san on liver function, renal function or metal concentration of organs such as blood, brain, liver, kidney and bone. Ojeok-san proved to be safe, but more clinical studies regarding the safety are needed hereafter. 4. Papers related to analgesic, anti-pyretic, anti-phlogistic activities of Ojeok-san were in vivo studies, and other papers were about anti-hyperlipidemic activity, apoptosis inducing activity on uterine myeloma cell line and anti blood static activity on hydrocortisone acetate induced blood statis model. 5. Case reports were about anti-lipidemia, analgesic effect for mastalgia/back pain and anxiety disorder due to climacteric changes. Conclusion : Ojeok-san is being used in various ways with analgesic, anti-pyretic, anti-phlogistic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-tumor or anti-blood statis activity. However, mechanism study should be conducted at the molecular biology level and more clinical studies on the efficacy of Ojeok-san are needed.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.183-190
• /
• 2021

Background: The circadian rhythm is the internal clock that controls sleep-wake cycles, metabolism, cognition, and several processes in the body, and its disruption has been associated with aging. The differentiated embryo chondrocyte (Dec) gene is related to circadian rhythm. To our knowledge, there are no reports of the relationship between dec gene expression and KRG effect. Therefore, we treated Dec gene knockout (KO) aging mice with KRG to study anti-aging related effects and possible mechanisms. Methods: We evaluated KRG and expression of Dec genes in an ototoxicity model. Dec genes expression in livers of aging mice was further analyzed. Then, we assessed the effects of DEC KO on hearing function in mice by ABR. Finally, we performed DNA microarray to identify KRG-related gene expression changes in mouse liver and assessed the results using KEGG analysis. Results: KRG decreased the expression of Dec genes in ototoxicity model, which may contribute to its anti-aging efficacy. Moreover, KRG suppressed Dec genes expression in liver of wild type indicating inhibition of senescence. ABR test indicated that KRG improved auditory function in aging mouse, demonstrating KRG efficacy on aging related diseases. Conclusion: Finally, in KEGG analysis of 238 genes that were activated and 158 that were inhibited by KRG in DEC KO mice, activated genes were involved in proliferation signaling, mineral absorption, and PPAR signaling whereas the inhibited genes were involved in arachidonic acid metabolism and peroxisomes. Our data indicate that inhibition of senescence-related Dec genes may explain the anti-aging efficacy of KRG.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.42 no.12
• /
• pp.893-905
• /
• 2019

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that constantly undergo fission and fusion processes that closely related to their function. Disruption of mitochondrial dynamics has been demonstrated in acute kidney injury (AKI), which could eventually result in cell injury and death. Previously, we reported that augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) alleviates renal tubular epithelial cell injury. Here, we gained further insights into whether the renoprotective roles of ALR are associated with mitochondrial dynamics. Changes in mitochondrial dynamics were examined in experimental models of renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR). In a model of hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) injury in vitro, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and mitochondrial fission process protein 1 (MTFP1), two key proteins of mitochondrial fission, were downregulated in the Lv-ALR + HR group. ALR overexpression additionally had an impact on phosphorylation of Drp1 Ser637 during AKI. The inner membrane fusion protein, Optic Atrophy 1 (OPA1), was significantly increased whereas levels of outer membrane fusion proteins Mitofusin-1 and -2 (Mfn1, Mfn2) were not affected in the Lv-ALR + HR group, compared with the control group. Furthermore, the mTOR/4E-BP1 signaling pathway was highly activated in the Lv-ALR + HR group. ALR overexpression led to suppression of HR-induced apoptosis. Our collective findings indicate that ALR gene transfection alleviates mitochondrial injury, possibly through inhibiting fission and promoting fusion of the mitochondrial inner membrane, both of which contribute to reduction of HK-2 cell apoptosis. Additionally, fission processes are potentially mediated by promoting tubular cell survival through activating the mTOR/4E-BP1 signaling pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.451-460
• /
• 2015

Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is a mammalian $NAD^+$-dependent protein deacetylase that regulates cellular metabolism and inflammatory response. The organ-specific deletion of SIRT1 induces local inflammation and insulin resistance in dietary and genetic obesity. Macrophage-mediated inflammation contributes to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, however, the macrophage-specific SIRT1 function in the context of obesity is largely unknown. C57/BL6 wild type (WT) or myeloid-specific SIRT1 knockout (KO) mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or normal diet (ND) for 12 weeks. Metabolic parameters and markers of hepatic steatosis and inflammation in liver were compared in WT and KO mice. SIRT1 deletion enhanced HFD-induced changes on body and liver weight gain, and increased glucose and insulin resistance. In liver, SIRT1 deletion increased the acetylation, and enhanced HFD-induced nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$), hepatic inflammation and macrophage infiltration. HFD-fed KO mice showed severe hepatic steatosis by activating lipogenic pathway through sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), and hepatic fibrogenesis, as indicated by induction of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), alpha-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA), and collagen secretion. Myeloid-specific deletion of SIRT1 stimulates obesity-induced inflammation and increases the risk of hepatic fibrosis. Targeted induction of macrophage SIRT1 may be a good therapy for alleviating inflammation-associated metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.559-592
• /
• 1999

It has been known that Ki(氣) energy is very effective on many adult diseases. Oriental Medicine has acknowledged Ki as an existing reality and investigated its effects on the body. However, the existence of Ki has not been fully explained. In order to find a conclusive evidence on the existence of Ki, this experiment was done to study the mutual relationship of Ki with a magnetic field and BEP (biological energy projector). The BEP apparatus was irradiated under the magnetic field on rats in the hyperlipidemic induced state. Following criterias were measured in this experiment: weight change, weight of the visceral organs, serum, hepatic lipid peroxide, bleeding time, tissue factor, and etc. The following results were obtained in this study: 1. The weight of rat significantly decreased in the magnetic field treated group and radically reduced in the group treated with both magnetic field and BEP. 2. The weight of liver, heart, and kidney increased in both the magnetic field treated group and magnetic field+BEP group compared to the normal group, but decreased in comparison to the control group. No changes were witnessed in the weight of spleen. 3. Serum and hepatic total cholesterol, total lipid, and lipid peroxide level significantly decreased in both magnetic field treated group and magnetic field+BEP treated group, while lipase activity has increased noticeably. 4. Serum HDL showed a significant increase in both magnetic field treated group and magnetic field+BEP treated group compared to the control group, while LDL and VLDL level decreased significantly. 5. A bleeding time significantly increased in both magnetic field treated group and magnetic field+BEP treated group compared to the control group. A tissue factor value of the lung decreased in the magnetic field treated group and magnetic field+BEP treated groups while increased in the control group. 6. Serum and hepatic lipid peroxide and glutathione level were significantly decreased in the magnetic field treated group and magnetic field+BEP treated group, while hepatic glutathione level was significantly increased compared to the control group. 7. A significant increase was found in the serum hydroxyl radical and SOD activity in the dietary hyperlipidemic rats, and significant decrease was found in the serum lipid peroxide content and superoxidase activity. 8. Hepatic cytosolic enzyme xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase showed a significant decrease in the magnetic field treated group and magnetic field+BEP treated group. Through the above experimental results, one can suggest that the magnetic field with BEP can suppress hyperlipidemia and boost lipid metabolism and restructuring a lipid in liver, which increases the function of liver. To conclude, BEP is considered to show more potent effects under the exposure of magnetic field because magnetic field seems to increase the flow of Ki in the body.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.303-329
• /
• 2019

Intestinal failure (IF) is the critical reduction of the gut mass or its function below the minimum needed to absorb nutrients and fluids required for adequate growth in children. Severe IF requires parenteral nutrition (PN). Pediatric IF is most commonly due to congenital or neonatal intestinal diseases or malformations divided into 3 groups: 1) reduced intestinal length and consequently reduced absorptive surface, such as in short bowel syndrome (SBS) or extensive aganglionosis; 2) abnormal development of the intestinal mucosa such as congenital diseases of enterocyte development; 3) extensive motility dysfunction such as chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction syndromes. The leading cause of IF in childhood is the SBS. In clinical practice the degree of IF may be indirectly measured by the level of PN required for normal or catch up growth. Other indicators such as serum citrulline have not proven to be highly reliable prognostic factors in children. The last decades have allowed the development of highly sophisticated nutrient solutions consisting of optimal combinations of macronutrients and micronutrients as well as guidelines, promoting PN as a safe and efficient feeding technique. However, IF that requires long-term PN may be associated with various complications including infections, growth failure, metabolic disorders, and bone disease. IF Associated Liver Disease may be a limiting factor. However, changes in the global management of IF pediatric patients, especially since the setup of intestinal rehabilitation centres did change the prognosis thus limiting "nutritional failure" which is considered as a major indication for intestinal transplantation (ITx) or combined liver-ITx.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.370-378
• /
• 2019

The hepatic ischemic model has recently been widely used for the epidemiological study of ischemic reperfusion injury. This study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of vanillin, which is known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, against hepatic and renal injury using an ischemia-reperfusion rat model, and we also investigated the mechanism related to vanillins' protective effect. The test material was administered at a concentration of 100 mg/kg for 3 days, followed by ligation of the liver for 60 minutes to induce ischemia reperfusion. As control groups, there was a negative control, sham control and ischemia-reperfusion-only ischemia reperfusion control, and the controls groups were compared with the drug administration group. In the vanillin group, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were significantly inhibited compared with the AST and ALT activities of the ischemia-reperfusion group, and histopathological examination showed significant reduction of both inflammation and necrosis. The malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were significantly different from the ischemia-reperfusion group. In conclusion, vanillin showed a hepatocyte protective action by alleviating the cellular inflammation and cell necrosis caused by hepatic ischemia-reperfusion, and vanillin mitigated inflammatory changes in the kidney glomeruli and distal tubules. The protective effect is considered to be caused by vanillin's antioxidant function. Further studies such as on cell death and possibly vanillin's same effect on damaged tissue will be necessary for clinical applications such as organ transplantation.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.56-71
• /
• 1999

1. In the recohnition of cosmos true form, It is compared to the Boundless(無極) the Great Absolute(太極),Yin and Yang(兩儀) throungh the fertilazation process of spermatozoon and ovum. 2. It is explained that principle of unchange through the Form and Action(體 用) relation of the outer appearances and Number (象數) with matching the number of nine and ten to HaDoo(河圖) and RakSye(洛書). 3. Eigth divinations(八卦) being compared to the human body, Care presevation of pregnancy(養胎) is explained that head forms firstly(Gun-I 1乾一), secondly lung(Tae-E 兌二), heart(E-Sam 離三), liver(Jin-Sa 震四), gall bladder(Son-Oo 巽五), kidney(Gam-Yuk 坎六), intestines and stomach(Gan-Chill 艮七), lastly flesh forms(Gon-Pal 坤八). 4. It is explained that process of physiological change of $\ll$Nei Ching The Natural Truth in Ancient Times$\gg$(內經 上古天眞論) by matching boy at the age of 8 to Gan-divination(艮卦), and girl at the age of 7 to Tae-divination(兌卦). 5. The theory of six sons from Gun-Gon(乾坤六子論) is explained by relation of Apriority Eight-divination(先天八卦) obedience and disobedience-left and right. 6. It is explained that form of the human-body and the relationship of the Heart - the Kidney through the Gam(坎) Li(離) - divination 7. The effort of interpretating time and space of the Twelve Horary signs is explanined by season, direction, Five elements(五行), rise and decline, the Three Sum(三合), the Six Sum (六合), the six crash(六衡)'s relation. 8. the process of change from apriority(先天) to postery(後天) in the book of Changes(周易) is explanined by comparing to the phenomenum of nature and the human body. 9. The Energy Satus(氣位) are different from the direction of Eight-divination(八卦) and the properties of the good or bad of herb-drugs are differnt from the place of production. 10. The rightness of realizating the Overlapping-divinations(重卦) are compared to the phenomenum of nature through the Divination Virture(卦德). 11. The dependence-relations of The Twelve Meridians(十二經脈) are explained by-matching January with liver meridian, February with gall bladder meridian, march with heart pericardium meridiam, April with small intestine meridkan, August with lung spleen meridian, jury with stomach meridian, August with lung meridian, September with large intestine meridian, October with urinary bladder meridianm November with kidney meridian. December with triple energizer meridian throng The Twelve Byuk-divination. 12. The process of menstration cycle is explained by The Month symbolizing-divination(月候卦). 13. Through The Trade(交易) prove the reason of feverish sympotoms to use feverish Drug, mill sympotoms to use mill drug of prescription and Heart-Kidneys Consensus(心賢相交) and through The Change(變易), prove the chill and feverish consensus of forechill after feverish, fore feverish after chill and through. The Non-Change(不易) explain the reason of chill sympotoms to use feverish drug, feverish sympotoms to use chill drug of prscription. 14. Ho-divination(互卦) applicate Jxa Sa(佐使) herb drug match of Kun Sin Jwa Sa() theory. 15. According to the Hyo-position(爻位) match the ages, body form and drug by matching Ehight-divination(八卦) to the human body form and function in medicine and the book of Changes(周易) application emphasize the human body Ehight-divination(人身八卦). 16. Throgh the Order-divination(序卦) explain the rightness of Divination Image(卦象) arrangement and all things take shape by cosmo-energy conseusus(宇宙氣交). 17. Throgh the Mixing-divination(難卦) supply the vacancy of medicine and the book of Changes(周易) relationship in the foreword explian the human energy movements, sleep, vomitting, the energy arrival(逮氣), heart pericardium(心包), lung membrane(肺膜) etc.... Like the above sentence medicine and the book of Changes(周易) theory of scholar Tang on the viewpoint of easten-the way Western appliance(東道西器) researching abyss of medicine impart to descendants, so I think that the achievement of medicine and the book of Changes(周易) study is very excellant and I expect that the study Korean Oriental Medicine(韓醫學) theory by means of medicine the book of Changes(周易) reference, will be accelarated.