• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.91-101
• /
• 1995

A perinatal and postnatal study of KTC-1, a new semisyntheitic rifamycin antituberculous drug, was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats. Dosages of KTC-1 0, 12, 27.6, and 63.5 mg/kg/day were administered to dams orally by gavage from day 17 of gestation to day 21 of lactation. All pregnant rats were allowed to deliver naturally for postnatal examination of their offspring. At 63.5 mg/kg/day, weakness, dark-red discharge around eyes, a loss in body weight, and a decrease in food and water consumption were observed in dams. An increase in the weight of adrenal gland and spleen, and a decrease in the weight of kidney and heart were also found. An increase in neonatal deaths during the lactation period, a loss in body weight, a delay in physical development, a decrease in traction ability, an increase in the number of errors and the time required for the multiple T-maze trial were found in F1 offspring. In addition, an increase in the incidence of visceral variations and retarded ossification were observed in F1 4 day old rats. An increase in the incience of skeletal anomalies was seen in F2 fetuses. There were no sings of maternal toxicity or embryotoxicity at 12 and 27.6 mg/kg/day. From the results mentioned above, it can be concluded that the no-effect dose levels(NOELs)for dams, F1 offspring, and F2 fetuses are 27.6 mg/kg/day.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.294-300
• /
• 2011

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a phenolic resorcylic acid lactone compound produced by several species of Fusarium. ZEA has toxic effects in the testes of domestic and laboratory animals. Korean red ginseng (KRG), the steamed root of Panax ginseng Meyer, has multiple pharmacological effects such as vasorelaxation, anti-thrombosis, anti-hypertension, etc. In this study, we investigated the effects of KRG extract on testicular toxicity induced by ZEA. Rats were treated with 300 mg/kg oral doses of KRG for 4 weeks every other day. The rats were then treated with a single dose of 5 mg/kg ZEA delivered intraperitoneally, whereas control rats received only doses of the vehicle. As a result, germ cell apoptosis induced by ZEA was decreased by KRG pre-treatment. In addition, Fas and Fas-L expression was reduced in rats that received KRG pre-treatment compared to ones treated with ZEA alone. In conclusion, impaired spermatogenesis resulting from ZEA treatment was prevented by KRG through Fas-Fas L modulating.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.117-127
• /
• 2006

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of neurodegenerative disease associated with aging in the human population. This disease is characterized by the following 4 structural changes : Atrophy of the Cortex, Parasympathetic, and other neural cells, the existence of Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and the accumulation of Senile plaques. NFTs and Senile plaques is known to be the index of this disease. Senile plaques disturbs the neutro transmission and depletes of Acetylcholine. So, Recovery of Acetylcholine is the primal objective for treating Alzheimer's disease. So, Inhibiting the activity of Acetylcholine Esterase (AChE), which causes the hydrolysus of acetylcholine into choline and acetate, can be seen as a key role for treating Alzheimer's disease. Increasing body of evidence has been demonstrated that Bee Venom Acupuncture (BV) could compete with complex protein involving in multiple step of $NF-_{\kappa}B$ activation and exert the anti-inflammatory potential of combined inhibition of the prostanoid and nitric oxide synthesis systems by inhibition of IKK and $NF-_{\kappa}B$. BV dose-dependently attenuated Scopolamine-induced Acetylcholine esterase activities in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the mice brain. This study therefore suggests that BV acupuncture method may be useful for prevention of development or progression of AD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.478-482
• /
• 2020

We evaluated the protective effects of cricket methanol extract (CME) on ultra-violet B (UVB)-induced photoaging in human skin fibroblasts. The fibroblast cells were treated with 10, 50, and 100 ㎍/mL of CME for 24 h, and then exposed to UVB (30 mJ/㎠). CME showed a dose-dependent cytoprotective effect without any observable cytotoxicity. CME reduced UVB-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by 34.4, 34.9, 40.6% at concentrations of 10, 50, 100 ㎍/mL respectively. CME inhibited the release of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 1 and 3. Furthermore, CME also reduced UVB-induced collagen degradation in the fibroblast cells. Taken together, our data suggests that CME has a significant protective effect on UVB-induced photoaging of the skin. This benefit occurs through multiple mechanisms. The results also suggest a potential role for CME as an ingredient in anti-photoaging cosmetic products in the future.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.11
• /
• pp.1908-1915
• /
• 2018

Upon viral infection, the host cell recognizes the invasion through a number of pattern recognition receptors. Melanoma differentiation associated gene 5 (MDA5) and retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I) recognize RNA molecules derived from invading viruses, activating down-stream signaling cascades, culminating in the induction of the type I interferon. On the other hand, viruses have evolved to evade type I interferon-mediated inhibition. Hepatitis E virus has been shown to encode a few antagonists of type I interferon and it is not surprising that viruses encode multiple mechanisms of viral evasion. In the present study, we demonstrated that HEV PCP strongly down-regulates MDA5-mediated activation of interferon ${\beta}$ induction in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, MDA5 protein expression was almost completely abolished. In addition, polyinosinic polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C))- and Sendai virus-mediated activation of type I interferon responses were similarly abrogated in the presence of HEV PCP. Furthermore, HEV PCP down-regulates several molecules that play critical roles in the induction of type I IFN expression. Taken together, these data collectively suggest that HEV-encoded PCP is a strong antagonist of type I interferon.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.134-143
• /
• 2010

We studied the hydrogen-bonded $TlH_2PO_4$ (TDP) ferroelectrics treated with the proton-beam bombardment. The TDP material was irradiated with 1-MeV proton beam at a dose of $10^{15}/cm^2$. In order to analyze the hydrogen environment in TDP, we carried out the $^1H$ high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) - i.e., Combined Rotation And Multiple Pulse Spectroscopy (CRAMPS) measurement. The isotropic chemical shift of hydrogen indicates its displacive property is related to the $PO_4$ lattice deformation which occurs throughout the antiferroelectric-, the ferroelastic- and the paraelastic-phase transitions. The temperature dependence of $\sigma_{iso}$ reveals the electronic charge redistribution is induced by the proton-beam irradiation and the elastic property.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.75-80
• /
• 2002

Quercetin is one of the bioflavonoid compounds and has multiple biological effects such as antioxidant and effective anti-inflammatory agent. Melanin has an important role in protecting human skin from the damaging effects of ultra-violet W) radiation. We studied the effect of quercetin on proliferation of B16/F10 melanoma cells. After 48h treatment of cells with quercetin, the cells exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition in their proliferation without apoptosis. Therefore, the decrease in cell numbers may be due to cell growth arrest, not due to cell death by cytotoxicity. We also investigated the effect of quercetin on melanogenesis of this cells. B16/F10 melanoma cells were grown for 48h in the presence of 0.01~50$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml quercetin and the total melanin contents were measured. Quercetin stimulated melanization of the cells in low concentrations (0.01~20$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml), whereas it inhibited melanization in high concentrations (30~50$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml). It was observed that quercetin differently regulates melanogenesis of B16/F10 melanoma cells dependent on its concentrations.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.291-297
• /
• 2004

Aminoglycosidic antibiotics have multiple effects on muscle. For example, they have been shown to block L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels in vascular smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and skeletal muscle. Possibly as a consequence of this effect on $Ca^{2+}$ influx, they have been shown to decrease the contractility of cardiac muscle (gentamicin). The present study evaluated the effects of gentamicin on blood pressure, vasorelaxation and left ventricular pressure. Gentamicin(10, 20, 40mg/kg) produced dose-dependent blood pressure lowering in rat. The pretreatment of MgSO$_4$ and imipramine (Na$^{+}$-Mg$^{2+}$ exchange inhibitor) had no effect in gentamicin-induced hypotension. However, the gentamicin-induced hypotension was significantly potentiated in the preincubation of verapamil or nifedipine (L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blockers), and was significantly attenuated by CaCl$_2$ and was slightly attenuated by caffeine (phosphodiesterase inhibitor). Gentamicin (10, 30, 100$\mu$g/m1) did not have an effect on relaxation of phenylephrine-precontracted aortic rings but high concentration of gentamicin(100, 300$\mu$g/ml) relaxed KCl-precontracted aortic rings, which relaxation was potentiated by treatment of nifedipine. Whereas gentamicin markedly decreased left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) in perfused heart. These data suggest that gentamicin has significant blood pressure lowering of the rat, which seems to be mediated by calcium channel-sensitive pathway and blood $Ca^{2+}$ level may be important role in this response.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.57-66
• /
• 2018

It has been estimated that approximately 15% of reproductive-age couples suffer from infertility. Male factors contribute to almost half of infertility cases, and in many patients the underlying cause of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia is unknown. Accumulating evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays a role as a contributing factor to male infertility, and reactive oxygen species have been shown to impair sperm function and motility and to damage sperm membrane and DNA. Therefore, this review explored the evidence provided by studies published from 2002 to 2017 on the impact of oral antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10, zinc, selenium, and pentoxifylline) on seminal fluid parameters in men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. Most of the studies were randomized controlled studies that investigated the effect of single or combined antioxidants and reported improvements in at least one semen parameter. The most noteworthy effect that was found was that the use of multiple antioxidants increased sperm motility and concentration. Nonetheless, there is a lack of agreement on the dose, the duration of treatment, and whether individual or combined oral antioxidants should be used. Therefore, the current review provides evidence supporting the use of oral antioxidants in the treatment of infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.191-196
• /
• 2006

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors may be acting several decades before CVD becomes manifest. Data from young subjects may be valuable in further elucidating at this issue. We evaluated the association between baPWV (brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity) and cardiovascular risk factors in apparently healthy young adults. A total of 46 male and 91 female adolescents aged $18{\sim}25 years$ were studied. baPWV increased in a dose-responsive manner as the number of metabolic syndrome components. In both gender groups, baPWV was positively correlated with age. In males, waist, circumference total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol were positively correlated with baPWV, and in females, blood pressure (BP) was positively correlated with baPWV. Age, gender, mean BP, and Homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were found to be independent factors associated with baPWV levels. In conclusion, mean BP, age, gender, and HOMA-IR were associated with baPWV in young adults. This result suggests that multiple cardiovascular risk factors may be associated with an increased risk of arterial stiffness in young adults.