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Profile and Outcome of Management of Brain Tumours in Kaduna Northwestern Nigeria

  • Danjuma, Sale;Dauda, Happy Amos;Kene, Aghadi Ifeanyi;Akau, Kache Stephen;Jinjiri, Ismail Nasiru
    • Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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    • v.65 no.5
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    • pp.751-757
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    • 2022
  • Objective : Tumours of the brain are a rare occurrence accounting for approximately 2% of all neoplasms in adults. Few studies have been done in Nigeria on the profile of brain tumours. The aim of this study is to determine the profile of brain tumours in general and determine the change in Kanofsky Performance Score (KPS) after treatment. Methods : This is a prospective hospital-based study in Kaduna. All consecutive patients over 18 years of age with diagnosis of brain tumours from January 2016 to December 2019 were included in the study. Demographic and clinical data was collected using a proforma during the study. Patients who received treatment were followed up for 12 months. The primary outcome data was the difference in the quality of life as measured by KPS at the point of first contact and at 1-month after treatment and at 12-month follow up. Data obtained was analysed with SPSS version 25.0 for Windows. Descriptive statistics was done to determine the profile. Paired t-test at 95% confidence interval was done to check for significant correlation between the mean KPS. Results : A total of 39 consecutive patients were included in the study. There was a slight male preponderance with a M : F of 1.17 : 1. Meningioma and metastasis were more common in females while gliomas and pituitary tumours were more common in males. The mean age of patients was 49.8 years and standard deviation of 11.8 years. Pituitary tumours were the most common tumours. The most common location of the tumour was frontal lobe followed by the pituitary gland. The mean duration of symptoms before neurosurgical consultation was 38 weeks. The most common presenting symptoms of patient with brain tumour was headache. The quality of life improve compare to the baseline in 81% of patient at discharge and at 1 year follow up. The overall mortality rate was 25.6%. Conclusion : The most common brain tumour in our study is pituitary tumour. Most patients present late. The most common presenting symptoms is headache. There is significant improvement in the KPS of patients following treatment. The overall mortality rate at 1-year post treatment is 25.6%.

A Study on the Vegetables Mentioned in the Bible (성서에 언급된 채소류에 관한 연구)

  • Woo, Ja-Won
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.1-9
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    • 2007
  • This paper is intended to study what kinds of the vegetables are mentioned in the Bible and how they were used in those days. While one hundred and twenty-eight different plants are mentioned in the Bible, there are today 2,384 plant species in modem Israel, most of which have been introduced in recent centuries. These plants obviously did not exist there in biblical times and were only recently introduced from Australia and South America, respectively. This article will study only the vegetables mentioned in the Bible and known to have existed in the old and new testament times. Since the first book devoted exclusively to biblical botany was that of Levinus Lemmens in 1566, the modem systematic study of biblical plants, began with F. Hasselquist, a student of Linnaeus, the founder of modem botany. In 1928, Immanuel Loew approached the subject differently, reviewing all known data pertaining to biblical plants. His work not only discussed biblical plants, but also plants in later Jewish literature, particularly the Talmud. The British scholar G. E. Post provided a broad field study of modem plants in Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. More recent major treatments of the subject include those of A. and H. Moldenke (1952), M. Zohary (1982), N. Hareuveni (1984), and Y. J. Choi(1996). Today, articles on specific biblical plants listed in the Bible can be found in any number of encyclopedias. This study attempts to provide a synthesis of the work of a number of scholars who studied the vegetables and plants mentioned in the Bible. As a preliminary study on the culture of food in the biblical period, this study has focused on the identity and features of the vegetables of the Bible. In only a limited number of instances, because of the paucity of the informations and the broad and generic descriptions of the plants, we can't be certain about the identification of the vegetables named in the Bible. In many instances the traditions established by the Greek, Aramaic, and English translations are helpful, although sometimes they are misleading. This paper subdivides the vegetables into broad areas, the general vegetables and the flavoring herbs. Vegetables formed very important part of the diet in the biblical times. Two main types were used: those whose nutritious seeds could be easily stored and those which were eaten freshly gathered from gardens. Pulse seeds provided a useful source of vegetable protein, while fresh green vegetables were vitamin rich. Pulses could be eaten boiled, or their dried seeds could be ground up into flour and then made into nutritious soups. Fresh vegetables were eaten either raw or lightly cooked, usually by boiling in water. The general vegetables in the Bible are herbs(garden rocket), cucumber(snake cucumber), watermelon, leeks, chicory, and onions. Also the flavoring herbs in the Bible are rue, dill, cummin, black cummin, frankincense, cinnamon, cassia, myrrh, black mustard, coriander, mint, saffron, ginger grass, syrian hyssop, aloes(eagle wood), manna which have the flavor, aroma, and medical values.

Study on the Anti-cancer, Anti-metastasis and Immune response improvement Effects of Aqua-acupuncture with Rubi Fructus infusion solution (항암(抗癌) 및 면역효과(免疫效果)에 복분자약침(覆盆子藥鍼)이 미치는 영향(影響))

  • Lee, Seon-Hee;Lee, Byung-Ryul
    • Journal of Acupuncture Research
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    • v.17 no.1
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    • pp.189-219
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    • 2000
  • To study the effects of anti-cancer, anti-metastasis and immune response improvement effects of aqua-acupuncture with Rubi Fructus infusion solution, we used Rubi Fructus infusion solution(taken by water-alcohol method) put into Chung-wan (CV12) and Chok-Samni(ST36) of BALB/c or C57BL/6 which are corresponding to humanbody. We observed the cytotoxicity, the effect on the expression of MMP-9 gene, the ability to control cancer cell proliferation, change of body weight, surviving number, median surviving time, increase of life span, changes in amount of leukocyte, erythrocyte, platelet, total protein, creatinine, glucose and LDH, weight of spleen, number of pulmonary colony, histological analysis on tissue metastasis of lung and liver, splenic cell proliferation, the expression of cytokine gene, the number of $CD4^+$, $CD8^+$, $CD19^+$ and NK cell, and concluded like this. The results were obtained as follows : 1. Effects of Anti-cancer 1) The cytotoxicity about B16-F10 cell line of $2^0$, $2^{-1}$, $2^{-2}$, $2^{-3}$, $2^{-5}$, $2^{-6}$, $2^{-7}$, $2^{-8}$ diluent groups in Rubi Fructus infusion solution treatment was inhibited significantly, compared with control group. 2) The cytotoxicity about HT1080 cell line of $2^0{\sim}2^{-8}$ diluent groups in Rubi Fructus infusion solution treatment was inhibited significantly, compared with control group. 3) The effect on expression of MMP-9 gene was inhibited significantly in all the sample groups, compared with control group. 4) The effect on the control-ability on the cancer cell proliferation showed cytotoxicity significantly in $2^0$, $2^{-1}$, $2^{-2}$, $2^{-3}$, $2^{-4}$, $2^{-5}$, $2^{-6}$, $2^{-7}$, diluent groups. 2. Effects of Anti-metastasis 1) S-180 cancer cell line transplants in BALB/c mice were inhibited significantly in weight increase in all the sample groups, compared with control group. The surviving number increased in almost sample groups, except one group put into Chok-Samni(ST36) with 20% Rubi Fructus infusion solution treatment group that showed same number of the control group. 2) S-180 cancer cell line transplants in BALB/c mice showed high MST significantly in almost sample groups, compared with control group. But one group put into Chok-Samni(ST36) with 20% Rubi Fructus infusion solution showed low MST than control group. 3) The group injected in vein with B16-F10 cancer cell line in C57BL/6 mice showed increased ILS than control group significantly in anti-metastasis test. 3. Effects of Immune response improvement 1) The group injected in vein with B16-F10 cancer cell line in C57BL/6 mice were increased significantly in the number of leukocyte and glucose, and decreased significantly in the amount of platelet and LDH, compared with control group. However, there's no significant increase or decrease in number of erythrocyte, total protein and creatinine. 2) We couldn't find any significant relation in spleen weight of the sample group. 3) In pulmonary colony, sample group was decreased significantly, compared with control group. 4) Histological analysis of sample group inhivited compared with that of control group in both of lung and liver. 5) In immune system, all the sample groups showed having more relevancy to the effect on splenic cell proliferation than normal group. 6) Cytokine gene increased in almost sample groups, except one group treated with $50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ Rubi Fructus infusion solution on IL-12. 7) In flow cytometry there's no significant relation in number of $CD8^+$ cell, however, the number of $CD4^+$, $CD19^+$ cell and NK cell in sample group had more relation than in control group. Above the results showed that aqua-acupuncture of Rubi Fructus solution has effects of anti-cancer, and-metastasis and immune response improvement.

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Studies on the Generation-to-Generation Transmission of Cytoplasmic Polyhedrosis Virus and the Effect of Their Activation on the Induction in the Next Generation in the Silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (Virus의 경란전염이 차대의 잠작에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구)

  • 임종성;김근영
    • Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.85-92
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    • 1974
  • Many of studies on the transovarial transmission of occult virus and their activation due to various stresses such as cold or heat treatment, chemical feeding, and nutritional deficiency, etc., in the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. have been made, but any attempts have been not made to control virus diseases by detection of the occult virus-carried moths in the production of silkworm egg of hybrids, because of difficulty to detect occult virus in any stage. Therefore, it may be worth while to disclose whether a sublethal infection of the moths from which active virus are detectable, has the same level of induction rate as that of occult virus activation, thus to apply its results for the reduction of the occurence of virus diseases in silkworm rearing. For these purposes, the following experiment was conducted as one of preliminary steps. In this study, investigations on the generation-to-generation transmission of occult virus and a sublethal infection, and the role of chromosomal gene of the host, Jam 103 and Jam 104 in the Previous generation, and Jam 103 x Jam 103 and Jam 104 f Jam 104 in the next generation were made for the induction of virus diseases due to the transmitted virus. The frequency of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis due to the induction in the F$_1$ generation was markedly higher in the cross-batches, male$\times$female and male$\times$female in which inoculated individuals were used as fem ale parents than in the cross-batches, male$\times$female and male$\times$female in which virus has been not inoculated or inoculated only to male in the previous generation. The tendency of increasing rate was observed in any treatments; such as the inoculations of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (10$\^$5/, 10$\^$6/ 10$\^$7, and 10$\^$8//ml ill different concentration of inocula) , cold-treatment (5$^{\circ}C$, 12hrs or 24hrs), and formalin-feeding treatment (2% or 3%). The shape of polyhedra (tetragonal in outline) examined in the F, larvae was identified as that of the inoculated polyhedra with partial application of immunofluorescent techniques. These results suggests that the cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus in B. meri L. are transmitted to the next generation through the egg, apparently in the occult state. And the experimental results of various cross-batches revealed the egg cytoplasm plays an important part i the transmission of the occult virus of the cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus,

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Die Fahrlässigkeit im medizinischen Behandlungsfehler (의료사고에 있어서 과실 - 과실판단에 대한 판례의 태도를 중심으로-)

  • Yi, Jaekyeong
    • The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.29-56
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    • 2016
  • $F{\ddot{u}}r$ den Schadensersatzhaftung des Arztes, sog. die Arzthaftung, ist es vornehmlich vorauszusetzen: die $Sch{\ddot{a}}digungsbehandlung$ des Arztes, die Rechtswidrigkeit und das Verschulden. Zur Problematik der $Fahrl{\ddot{a}}ssigkeit$ in der Stufe des Verschuldens handelt sich es in dieser Beitrag um die Kritisierung der Rechtsprechung. $F{\ddot{u}}r$ die Entscheidung des Verschulden im medizinischen Fehler kommt es darauf an, ob die Sorgfaltspflicht des Arztes verletzt wird. $Daf{\ddot{u}}r$ wird der medizinische Standard rekurriert, den die Rechtsprechung nicht aus materieller, sondern aus normativer Sicht begreift. Erstaunlich $un{\ddot{u}}bereinstimmend$ mit deren Leitsatz wird der medizinische Standard als $Ma{\ss}stab$ der Sorgfaltspflicht materiell - zutreffend nur im Ergebnis - behandelt. Die Sorgfaltspflicht in der Medizin bedeutet nicht die natur-wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse, sondern eine "Best-$M{\ddot{u}}ssen$" Pflicht. Demnach ist der Standpunkt der Rechtsprechung, wonach den med. Standard normativ bewertet und die Sorgfaltspflicht darduch wieder normativ entscheidet, nicht anders als eine $w{\ddot{o}}rtliche$ Wiederholung. Die Arzthaftung in der Rechtsprechung ist aufgrund mit der Verneinung von der Sorgfaltspflichtverletzung nicht angenommen, welche in der Tat jedoch aus verschiedenen $Gr{\ddot{u}}nden$, wie die Rechtswidrigkeit, die $Fahrl{\ddot{a}}ssigkeit$ oder $Kausalit{\ddot{a}}t$, nicht angenommen. Der $Fahrl{\ddot{a}}ssigkeitsbeweis$ in der Rechtsprechung entwickelt sich mit dem Beweis nach objektivem $Ma{\ss}stab$, der Vermutung nach Anschein-Beweis und der $Beschr{\ddot{a}}nkung$ mit der Wahrscheinlichkeit. Bei Letzterem $geh{\ddot{o}}rt$ es $schlie{\ss}lich$ zum medizinischen Bereich. Ein Eintritt in den fachliche Bereich im Rahmen der Beweislast stellt der Beweiserleichterung $gegen{\ddot{u}}ber$. Aus diesem Hintergrund ist ${\S}630$ h Abs. 5 BGB bemerkenswert, wonach das Vorliegen eines groben Behandlungsfehler $regelm{\ddot{a}}{\ss}ig$ zur Vermutung von der $Kausalit{\ddot{a}}tszusammenhang$ $f{\ddot{u}}hrt$. Dieser Paragraph ist inhaltlich als Beweislastumkehr angesehen. Damit ist es von Nutzen im Fall des groben Fehler, der beim - elementaren - kunstgerechten Verhalten nicht entstanden $h{\ddot{a}}tte$, wie $Hygienem{\ddot{a}}ngel$, ${\ddot{U}}berdosierung$ des Narkotikum.

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Imaging Neuroreceptors in the Living Human Brain

  • Wagner Jr Henry N.;Dannals Robert F.;Frost J. James;Wong Dean F.;Ravert Hayden T.;Wilson Alan A.;Links Jonathan M.;Burns H. Donald;Kuhar Michael J.;Snyder Solomon H.
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.17-23
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    • 1984
  • For nearly a century it has been known that chemical activity accompanies mental activity, but only recently has it been possible to begin to examine its exact nature. Positron-emitting radioactive tracers have made it possible to study the chemistry of the human mind in health and disease, using chiefly cyclotron-produced radionuclides, carbon-11, fluorine-18 and oxygen-15. It is now well established that measurable increases in regional cerebral blood flow, glucose and oxygen metabolism accompany the mental functions of perception, cognition, emotion and motion. On May 25, 1983 the first imaging of a neuroreceptor in the human brain was accomplished with carbon-11 methyl spiperone, a ligand that binds preferentially to dopamine-2 receptors, 80% of which are located in the caudate nucleus and putamen. Quantitative imaging of serotonin-2, opiate, benzodiazapine and muscarinic cholinergic receptors has subsequently been accomplished. In studies of normal men and women, it has been found that dopamine and serotonin receptor activity decreases dramatically with age, such a decrease being more pronounced in men than in women and greater in the case of dopamine receptors than serotonin-2 receptors. Preliminary studies in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders suggests that dopamine-2 receptor activity is diminished in the caudate nucleus of patients with Huntington's disease. Positron tomography permits quantitative assay of picomolar quantities of neuro-receptors within the living human brain. Studies of patients with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, acute and chronic pain states and drug addiction are now in progress. The growth of any scientific field is based on a paradigm or set of ideas that the community of scientists accepts. The unifying principle of nuclear medicine is the tracer principle applied to the study of human disease. Nineteen hundred and sixty-three was a landmark year in which technetium-99m and the Anger camera combined to move the field from its latent stage into a second stage characterized by exponential growth within the framework of the paradigm. The third stage, characterized by gradually declining growth, began in 1973. Faced with competing advances, such as computed tomography and ultrasonography, proponents and participants in the field of nuclear medicine began to search for greener pastures or to pursue narrow sub-specialties. Research became characterized by refinements of existing techniques. In 1983 nuclear medicine experienced what could be a profound change. A new paradigm was born when it was demonstrated that, despite their extremely low chemical concentrations, in the picomolar range, it was possible to image and quantify the distribution of receptors in the human body. Thus, nuclear medicine was able to move beyond physiology into biochemistry and pharmacology. Fundamental to the science of pharmacology is the concept that many drugs and endogenous substances, such as neurotransmitters, react with specific macromolecules that mediate their pharmacologic actions. Such receptors are usually identified in the study of excised tissues, cells or cell membranes, or in autoradiographic studies in animals. The first imaging and quantification of a neuroreceptor in a living human being was performed on May 25, 1983 and reported in the September 23, 1983 issue of SCIENCE. The study involved the development and use of carbon-11 N-methyl spiperone (NMSP), a drug with a high affinity for dopamine receptors. Since then, studies of dopamine and serotonin receptors have been carried out in over 100 normal persons or patients with various neuropsychiatric disorders. Exactly one year later, the first imaging of opitate receptors in a living human being was performed [1].

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Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Related Risk Factors of Elderly Residents in Andong Rural Area 1. Based on the Anthropometric Measurements and Health Behaviors (안동 농촌지역 중년 및 노인 주민의 대사증후군 유병율과 관련 위험요인 분석 1. 신체계측결과와 건강습관을 중심으로)

  • Lee, Hye-Sang;Kwon, Chong-Suk
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.39 no.4
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    • pp.511-517
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    • 2010
  • This study was performed to estimate the prevalence and the risk factors of metabolic syndrome in Andong rural area. A total of 1,431 people (533 males, 898 females) aged over 45 years participated in this study in 2003. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 38.2% (male 23.5%, female 46.9%, p<0.001). As age increased, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome increased in female, but not in male. The major underlying components of metabolic syndrome were high blood pressure (67.1%), low HDL-cholesterol (60.6%), and abdominal obesity (39.9%). The distinctive component for male was high blood pressure (70.1%), and for female, low HDL-cholesterol (73.6%), high blood pressure (65.3%), and abdominal obesity (54.5%). Subjects having more than one component were 94.7%. The risk factors for metabolic syndrome were analyzed using the multiple logistic regression method according to gender and expressed as age-adjusted odds ratio (OR). The results of comparing female to male (OR=2.953), and of comparing obese by % body fat (M: OR=5.786, F: OR=13.498) or BMI (M: OR=3.782, F: OR=13.301) to normal body weight showed significantly higher risk for metabolic syndrome (p<0.001). Health related habits, such as smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise, didn't show any effect on metabolic syndrome. This study revealed that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in female subjects compared to both male and female, and high blood pressure was the main cause of metabolic syndrome. We suggest that the strategy for prevention or reducing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in this area should be concentrated on reducing high blood pressure through lowering obesity and abdominal obesity.

A Study for Plant Community Structure and Management Plan of Pinus densiflora Forest in Byeonsanbando National Park (변산반도국립공원 소나무림 식물군집구조 및 관리방안 연구)

  • Choi, Jin-Woo;Kwak, Jeong-In;Lee, Kyong-Jae;Choi, Woon-Kyoo
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.23 no.5
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    • pp.447-459
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    • 2009
  • This study is intended to provide basic date for the efficient management of Pinus densiflora community by analyzing ecological characteristics of Pinus densiflora inhabiting Byeonsanbando National Park. According to investigations, P. densiflora community and P. densiflora-Quercus community are widely distributed, occupying 40.3% of the total area. 21 sites ($400m^2$per site) are selected for TWINSPAN analysis, and the result indicates that the whole community of P. densiflora and P. densiflora-Quercus can be classified into 8 types, and the age of P. densiflora is 40-50 years, which is similar to that of deciduous broad-leaved trees. The 8 community types are: P. densiflora community which competes with Quercus variabilis; P. densiflora community in which Fraxinus sieboldiana and Quercus serrata grow in the understory layer; P. densifloa community in which Q. serrata grow in the understory layer and Smilax china var. microphylla in the shrub layer respectively; P. densifloa community in which P. densiflora and F. sieboldiana grow in the understory layer; P. densiflora community which competes with Q. serrata and Carpinus tschonoskii; P. densiflora community which competes with Q. variabilis and Q. serrata; P. densiflora community in which Prunus sargentii grow; P. densiflora community in which Abies holophylla grow. P. densiflora community which competes with Q. variablis and C. tschonoskii seems to be in a stage of succession to deciduous broad-leaved community. The analysis indicates that Shannon diversity index is 0.2756-1.3879. It also indicates that there is a negative correlation between P. densiflora and Q. variabilis and C. tschonoskii; there is a positive correlation between P. densiflora and F. sieboldiana and Rhododendron schlippenbachii. These investigations show that the transformation of vegetation is already under way. There is a possibility that ecological succession can take place in 30.4% of the total area from P. densiflora to Quercus and deciduous broad - leaved trees. Therefore, it is recommended that the preservation and maintenance of P. densiflora be implemented by taking control of competing species which undermine the stability of P. densiflora forest community.

Development of Natural Antioxidants and Whitening Agents for Cosmeceuticals

  • Kim, Jong-Pyung
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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    • 2007.11a
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    • pp.79-92
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    • 2007
  • Oxidative stress have known to be a risk factor for the degenerative processes and closely related to a lot of diseases. It is well established that antioxidants are good in protection and therapeutic means against oxidative damage. There is increasing interest in natural antioxidants and many natural antioxidants have been found and utilized as the possible protection for various diseases and skin aging. We have screened natural antioxidant agents for cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals, and drugs as therapeutic and preventive means against oxidative stress, and have developed a number of novel antioxidants from various natural sources. A novel melanin synthesis inhibitor, Melanocin A, isolated from the metabolite of a fungal strain Eupenicillium shearii F80695 inhibited mushroom tyrosinase and melanin biosynthesis of B16 melanoma cells with $IC_{50}$ value of 9.0 nM and MIC value of $0.9\;{\mu}M$, respectively. Melanocin A also exhibited potent antioxidant activity by scavenging of DPPH and superoxide anion radicals. UV was found to increase the level of hydrogen peroxides and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skin tissues. This increase in ROS may not only alter the structure and function of many genes and proteins directly but may also modulate their expressions through signal transduction pathways and, ultimately, lead to skin damage. We investigated the effect of Melanocin A on UV-induced premature skin aging. Firstly, the effect of Melanocin A on UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression in an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT in vitro was investigated. Acute UV irradiation induced MMP-9 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels and Melanocin A suppressed this expression in a dose-dependent manner. We then investigated UV-induced skin changes in hairless mice in vivo by Melanocin A. Chronic exposure of hairless mouse dorsal skin to UV increased skin thickness and induced wrinkle formation and the gelatinase activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Moreover, Melanocin A significantly suppressed UV-induced morphologic skin changes and MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. These results show that Melanocin A can prevent the harmful effects of UV that lead to skin aging. Therefore, we suggest that Melanocin A should be viewed as a potential therapeutic agent for preventing and/or treating premature skin aging. Terrein is a bioactive fungal metabolite isolated from Penicillium species. Terrein has a relatively simple structure and can be easily synthesized. However, the biologic effects of terrein are comparatively unknown. We found for the first time that terrein potently inhibit melanin production in melanocytes and has a strong hypopigmentary effect in a spontaneously immortalized mouse melanocyte cell line, Mel-Ab. Treatment of Mel-Ab cells with terrein (10-100 mM) for 4 days significantly reduced melanin levels in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, terrein at the same concentration also reduced tyrosinase activity. We then investigated whether terrein influences the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway and the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), which is required for tyrosinase expression. Terrein was found to induce sustained ERK activation and MITF down-regulation, and luciferase assays showed that terrein inhibits MITF promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. To elucidate the correlation between ERK pathway activation and a decreased MITF transcriptional level, PD98059, a specific inhibitor of the ERK pathway, was applied before terrain treatment and found to abrogate the terrein-induced MITF attenuation. Terrein also reduced the tyrosinase protein level for at least 72 h. These results suggest that terrain reduces melanin synthesis by reducing tyrosinase production via ERK activation, and that this is followed by MITF down-regulation.

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The Effect of Nuclear Overhauser Enhancement in Liver and Heart $^{31}P$ NMR Spectra Localized by 2D Chemical Shift Technique (이차원 화학변위 기법을 이용한 간 및 심장 $^{31}P$ 자기공명분광에서의 Nuclear Overhauser 효과에 대한 연구)

  • Ryeom Hun-Kyu;Lee Jongmin;Kim Yong-Sun;Lee Sang-Kwon;Suh Kyung-Jin;Bae Sung-Jin;Chang Yongmin
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.94-99
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    • 2004
  • Purpose : To investigate the signal enhancement ratio by NOE effect on in vivo $^{31}P$ MRS in human heart muscle and liver. we also evaluated the enhancement ratios of different phosphorus metabolites, which are important in 31P MRS for each organ. Materials and Methods : Ten normal subjects (M:F = 8:2, age range = 24-32 yrs) were included for in vivo $^{31}P$ MRS measurements on a 1.5 T whole-body MRI/MRS system using $^1H-^{31}P$ dual tuned surface coil. Two-dimensional Chemical Shift Imaging (2D CSI) pulse sequence for $^{31}P$ MRS was employed in all $^{31}P$ MRS measurements. First, $^{31}P$ MRS performed without NOE effect and then the same 2D CSI data acquisitions were repeated with NOE effect. After postprocessing the MRS raw data in the time domain, the signal enhancements in percent were estimated from the major metabolites. Results : The calculated NOE enhancement for liver $^{31}P$ MRS were $\alpha-ATP\;(7\%),\;\beta-ATP\;(9\%),\;\gamma-ATP\;(17\%),\;Pi\;(1\%),\;PDE\;(19\%)$ and $PME\;(31\%)$. Because there is no creatine kinase activity in liver, PCr signal is absent. For cardiac $^{31}P$ MRS, whole body coil gave better scout images and thus better localization than surface coil. In $^{31}P$cardiac multi-voxel spectra, DPG signal increased from left to right according to the amount of blood included. The calculated enhancement for cardiac $^{31}P$ MRS were : $\alpha-ATP\;(12\%),\;\beta-ATP\;(19\%),\;\gamma-ATP\;(30\%),\;PCr\;(34\%),\;Pi\;(20\%),\;(PDE)\;(51\%),\;and\;DPG\;(72\%)$. Conclusion : Our results revealed that the NOE effect was more pronounced in heart muscle than in liver with different coupling to 1H spin system and thus different heteronuclear cross-relaxation.

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