• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.259-265
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• 2015

Momordica charantia, commonly known as bitter melon, has interesting pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant. As supported by recent scientific reports on the beneficial effects of M. charantia, it is one of the most promising functional plants for diabetes today. In this study, we fermented the bitter melon with lactic acid bacteria and investigated the capability of controlling diabetic conditions by decreasing the blood glucose levels. After extracting the fermented bitter melon with hot water or ethanol, we tested several biological activities using mouse models. When we tested the efficacy of the glycemic control, the extracts of fermented bitter melon significantly lowered the blood glucose levels of the alloxan-induced diabetic mice. We also found that the lactic acid bacteria-fermented bitter melon protected liver damages from the treatment of alloxan monohydrates and maintained low levels of triglycerides and high levels of HDL cholesterol in these mouse models. These results suggest that our approach on fermenting bitter melon and the extracts of fermented bitter melon could lead to the possibility of the development of functional foods that contain the effectiveness of controlling blood glucose and lipid levels as well as preventing liver damages.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.165-168
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• 2012

Hox proteins containing DNA-binding homedomain act as transcription factors important for anteroposterior body patterning during vertebrate embryogenesis. However, the precise mechanisms by which signal pathways are transduced to regulate the Hox gene expression are not clear. In the course of an attempt to isolate an upstream regulatory factor(s) controlling Hox genes, protein kinase B alpha (Akt1) has been identified as a putative regulator of Hox genes through in silico analysis (GEO profile). In the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset GDS1784 at the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) site, Hox genes were differentially expressed depending on the presence or absence of Akt1. Since it was not well known how Akt1 regulates the specific Hox genes, whose transcription was reported to be regulated by epigenetic modifications such as histone acetylation, methylation etc., the expression of Gcn5, a histone acetyltransferase (HAT), was analyzed in wild type (WT) as well as in $Akt1^{-/-}$ mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells. RT-PCR analysis revealed that the amount of Gcn5 mRNA was similar in both WT and $Akt1^{-/-}$ MEFs. However, the protein level of Gcn5 was significantly increased in $Akt1^{-/-}$ MEF cells. The half life of Gcn5 was 1 hour in wild type whereas 8 hours in $Akt1^{-/-}$ MEF. These data all together, indicate that Gcn5 is post-transcriptionally down-regulated and the protein stability is negatively regulated by Akt1 in MEF cells.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.182-193
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• 2011

The aim of this paper is to present the methodology for hand tracking and hand gesture recognition. The detected hand and gesture can be used to implement the non-contact mouse. We had developed a MP3 player using this technology controlling the computer instead of mouse. In this algorithm, we first do a pre-processing to every frame which including lighting compensation and background filtration to reducing the adverse impact on correctness of hand tracking and hand gesture recognition. Secondly, YCbCr skin-color likelihood algorithm is used to detecting the hand area. Then, we used Continuously Adaptive Mean Shift (CAMSHIFT) algorithm to tracking hand. As the formula-based region of interest is square, the hand is closer to rectangular. We have improved the formula of the search window to get a much suitable search window for hand. And then, Support Vector Machines (SVM) algorithm is used for hand gesture recognition. For training the system, we collected 1500 hand gesture pictures of 5 hand gestures. Finally we have performed extensive experiment on a Windows XP system to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed scheme. The hand tracking correct rate is 96% and the hand gestures average correct rate is 95%.

• Journal of the HCI Society of Korea
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.9-17
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• 2006

We propose an EMG-based input interface technology for helping the tetraplegic to utilize mouse, keyboard and power wheelchair. Among possible actions for the tetraplegic utilizing these devices, teeth-clenching is chosen as an input action. By clenching left, right or both teeth, and controlling the clenching duration, several input commands for utilizing the devices can be conducted. EMG signals generated by teeth-clenching are acquired around one's left and right temples and they are used as control sources for utilizing the devices. We develop signal acquisition devices, signal processing algorithms, and prototype systems such as power wheelchair control, mouse control, and game control. Our experimental results with the tetraplegic show that the proposed method is useful for utilizing the devices.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.243-257
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• 2008

Myostatin, a negative regulator of myogenesis, is shown to function by controlling the proliferation of myoblasts. In this study we show that myostatin is an inhibitor of myoblast differentiation and that this inhibition is mediated through Smad 3. To determine MyoD expression by Dodamtang treatment, we compared the expression pattern of $C_{2}C_{12}$ mouse myoblasts that constitutively express myostatin with control cells. In vitro, increasing concentrations of Dodamtang reversibly prevented the myogenic blockage of myoblasts by myostatin expression. ELISA assay, Western and confocal analysis indicated that treatment of Dodamtang to the low serum culture media increased the levels of MyoD leading to the inhibition of myogenic differentiation by myostatin. The stable transfection of $C_{2}C_{12}$ myoblasts with myostatin expressing constructs did rescue MyoD-induced myogenic differentiation. Consistent with this, the treatment of Dodamtang rescued the expression of a MyoD in $C_{2}C_{12}$ myoblasts treated with myostatin. Taken together, these results suggest that induction of MyoD by Dodamtang inhibits myostatin activity and expression via SMAD3 resulting in the rescue of the myoblasts to differentiate into myotubes. Thus we propose that myostatin action by Dodamtang plays a critical role in myogenic differentiation and that the muscular hyperplasia and hypertrophy seen in animals that blockage of functional myostatin is because of deregulated proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.122-136
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• 2004

To evaluate effect of CRSST on inhibiting the occurrence of arthritis, we performed the experiments including production of inflammatory cytokine and immunoglobin in collagen induced arthritis model. The results were obtained as follows. CRSST extract shows any cytotoxicity effect on mouse lung fibroblast cells at dose of 400 ㎍/㎖. CRSST group shows inhibitory effect on arthritis incidence than control group for six weeks. Arthritis index of CRSST group reduces from 4 weeks (75±17.4%) to 6 weeks (33.3±10.0%) compared with control group. In CRSST group, production of cytokines which shows suppressive effect on inflammation (IL-4, IL-10 ) are increased and which promotes inflammation (TNF-α, INF-γ) are decreased in blood. In CRSST group, production of immunogloblin (IgG2b, IgG3 and IgM) is reduced compared with control group, and rate of CD4+ and CD3+ T cell is lower in joint and higher in lymph node compared with control group. From above results it could be accepted that CRSST shows anti-arthritis effect via immune system especially through the controlling the inflammatory cytokines and immunoglobins. CRSST could be usefully applied for the prevention and treatment of RA. And also is expected to be clinically helpful on the treatment of RA through modification.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.171-187
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• 2015

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Sagan-tang (SGT) on COPD mouse model. Methods The study was carried out by two ways (in vitro, in vivo). In vitro RAW264.7 cells (mouse macrophage) were used and analysed by flow cytometry, ELISA, Western blot. In vivo LPS and CSS challenged mice were used and its BALF had been analysed by cytospin image, FACS, ELISA, lung tissue by real-time PCR. Results In vitro, SGT maintained 80-100% rate of viablilty on 10 ~ 500 ㎍/㎖ concentration. In ELISA analysis with RAW264.7 cells, SGT significantly decreased NO over 30 ㎍/㎖. In flow cytometry, SGT 100 ㎍/㎖ dosage group displayed a tendency for decrease ROS. In Western blot analysis, SGT 100 ㎍/㎖ dosage group decreased NF-κB. In ELISA analysis, SGT significantly decreased TNF-α, IL-6 over 200 ㎍/㎖. In vivo SGT 200 ㎎/㎏ dosage group, application of SGT significantly decreased increase of neutrophils, TNF-α, IL-6 in BALF, muc5AC, TGF-β, TNF-α, expression of mRNA in lung tissue and histological lung injury. Conclusion This Study suggests usability of SGT for COPD patients by controlling lung tissue injury.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.131-146
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• 2004

In the present study, we exarnined anti-allergic effect of SGBHB in cultured B cells. B cells were prepared from isolated murine splenocytes and activated by co-treatment of anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody and recombinant IL-4 allergens. Anti-allergic effects of SGBHB in activated B cells were determined by measuring B cell surface activated molecules (CD23+ and CD11a+), and expression levels of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-$\alpha$, IgE, and HRF. The major findings are summarized as follows. 1. SGBHB treatment did not produce significant cytotoxic effects on mouse lung fibroblast cells. 2. SGBHB produced significant inhibitory effect on the expression of B cell surface activated molecules (CD23+ and CD11a) in activated B cells. 3. SGBHB treatment significantly inhibited expression levels of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$ mRNAs in activated B cells.IL-6 protein levels were significantly decreased by $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of SGBHB treatrrient, and TNF-$\alpha$ protein levels were decreased compared to the control group, but statistically insignificant. 4. SGBHB treatment significantly increased IL-10 at both mRNA and protein levels in activated B cells. 5. SGBHB treatment significantly inhibited levels of IgE production. Thus, the present data suggest that SGBHB has an anti-allergic effect on activated B cells by controlling irnmune responses, and further implicates the possibility on clinical application as a therapeutic agent.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2004

Objective: Chronic otitis media is an inflammation and infection of the middle ear which is persistent. Chronic otitis media occurs when the eustachian tube becomes blocked repeatedly, multiple infections, ear trauma, or swelling of the adenoids. A chronic ear may be the result of an acute ear infection that does not clear completely, or the result of recurrent ear infections. A chronic ear infection may be more destructive than an acute ear infection because its effects are prolonged, and it may cause permanent damage to the ear. Methods : Experimental animals made use of 4-5 weeks age(weight 20-25g) ICR(male)mouse. In the breeding farm, the lighting time was controlled from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm, the temperature was controlled within $22{\pm}0.5{\circ}$ and water and food were not limited. The extracts which were extracted from Hwangginaetak-san devided low dose group( 1.0g/kg-HN) and high dose group(3.0g/kg-HN), they were intragastrically administered to the mouse of sample A and sample B prior to LPS I.P injection. Compared with inflammation induced group which were induced by LPS, we measured the WBC count, IL-6 level in plasma and TNF-${\alpha}$ level in plasma. Results: 1. Hwangginaetak-san decreased WBC count in inflammatory reaction induced by LPS 2. Hwangginaetak-san decreased IL-6 level in inflammatory reaction induced by LPS. 3. Hwangginaetak-san didn't decreased TNF-${\alpha}$ level in inflammatory reaction induced by LPS Conclusion: According to above results, Hwangginaetak-san was improved its suppression effect to the inflammatory reaction through WBC count and IL-6 level. So Hwangginaetak-san is considered to be used for treatment of chronic otitis media by controlling the WBC count and IL-6 level in plasma.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2020

Background and Objectives For experiments on simulated burn, the preparation of an animal model is a very important step. The purpose of the current experiment is to design a simple and controllable method for the preparation of third-degree scald in a mouse model using the boiling water method. Materials and Methods A total of 18 Swiss mice were used. After the anesthetization, the mice were scalded by boiling water (100℃) using a mold with a 1 cm² circle area on the dorsum at contact times of 3s, 5s, and 8s. After confirming that 8 seconds of scald can cause a third-degree scald, the skin samples were collected at day 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, and analyzed by histopathological examinations. The wound retraction index (WRI) was also measured. Results Third-degree scald involving full-thickness skin was observed in the 8-second scald group, while a 3-second scald caused a superficial second-degree scald and a 5-second scald caused a deep second-degree scald. After third-degree scald, the burn wound continued to contract until day 14. Conclusion The scalding model of mice can be successfully established by the boiling water method. This method is easy to operate, it has a low cost, and it can control the scald depth by controlling the scald time. This is adequate to study skin thermal injury in the future. The scald model established by this method can last for 14 days.