• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.953-958
• /
• 2008

The object of this study was to investigate the immune-enhancing effects of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) on a deteriorated immune function by a protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) diet. Unicellular algae, CV were used as a biological response modifier. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed for 15 days with standard diet or a PEM diet, which is associated with decreased host immune defense. After 8 days, mice in the PEM diet group were orally administered by 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15 g/kg body weight of CV or distilled water. Nutritional parameters, and interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$ levels were significantly increased in the blood serum of the CV (0.15 g/kg)-treated group (29.6$\pm$2.8 pg/mL) compared to the non-treated PEM group (4.1$\pm$0.4 pg/mL, p<0.05). In addition, cell proliferation and production of cytokines were investigated via a CV (0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/mL) treatment using a human T cell line MOLT-4 cell. The CV treatment (1 mg/mL) significantly increased the production of both IFN-$\gamma$ and interleukin (IL)-2 (51.3$\pm$3.4 and 285.9$\pm$18.8 pg/mL, respectively) compared to the control (51.3$\pm$3.4 and 442.6$\pm$14.3 pg/mL, respectively), but did not affect the production of IL-4. These results suggest that CV may be useful in improving the immune function.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.147-152
• /
• 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate the inflammatory mechanisms of LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. The inflammation mechanism was evaluated in BV-2 cells with or without LPS treated using the Affymetrix microarray analysis system. The microarray analysis revealed that B cell receptor signaling pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, Jak-STAT signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, Neuro-active ligand-receptor interaction, TLR signaling path-way, and T cell receptor signaling pathway-related genes were up-regulated in LPS stimulated BV-2 cells. Selected genes were validated using real time RTPCR. These results can help an effective therapeutic approach to alleviating the progression of neuro-in-flammatory diseases.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.133-159
• /
• 2008

Every field of studies form its theory through its universal method and own method based on respective views with its own culture and contributes to academic advancement with appropriate research methodology within theory. Therefore, If methology of oriental medicine is not include universal method and particularity method in research methology, it will not obtain scientific character and lose its logic. The methology of oriental medicine is classified by two approaches, universal methology of natural science which inspect the effect through experimentation on the fact, and particularity methology of human science which understand the effect through translation on the value(politics, economics, society, philosophy, history and culture). In this paper, the methodology of oriental medicine contains duality including both universality and particularity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.1001-1006
• /
• 2004

In order to examine the anti-arthritic properties of ShinEumHur(SEH)-herbal acupuncture, an adjuvant-induced arthritic rat was generated by the intra-articular injection of dried cells of Mycobacterium tuberculosis emulsified in squalene into the right knee joint. Fifty microliter of SEH extract was injected into Zusanli(ST36) acupoint on the ipsilateral hind paw every other day for 2 weeks. The body weight, knee circumference, squeak threshold, and weight distribution ratio were analyzed as the assessment methods addressing arthritic symptoms such as arthritic pain, edema, and tenderness. The weight distribution ratio was measured by a digital-type analgesia instrument using the dual channel scale that separately measures the weight the arthritic rat distributes to each hind paw, and thus quantifies both of swelling and pain severities at once. The therapeutic effects of SEH-herbal acupuncture, assessed by squeaking threshold and weight distribution ratio, were observed on 8th day after the arthritis induction as compared to saline group and control group. On 10th day, SEH-herbal acupuncture therapy significantly started to alleviate the growing pattern of knee circumference of an arthritic rat in the range of 0.2㎝. However, the loss of body weight was not significantly recovered. Taken together, the SEH-herbal acupuncture exhibited the significant therapeutic efficiency to treat adjuvant-induced monoarthritis in rat.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2009

Microglial cells constitute the first line of defense against infection and injury in the brain. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective mechanisms of Agrimonia pilosa (AP) on LPS-induced activation of BV-2 microglial cells. The effects of AP on gene expression profiles in activated BV-2 microglial cells were evaluated using microarray analysis. BV-2 microglial cells were cultured in a 100 mm dish ($1{\times}10^7/mL$) for 24 hr and then pretreated with 1 g/mL AP or left untreated for 30 min. Next, 1 g/mL LPS was added to the samples and the cells were reincubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 30 min, 3 hr and 6 hr. The gene expression profiles of the BV-2 microglial cells varied depending on the AP. The microarray analysis revealed that MAPK signaling pathway-related genes were down-regulated and IL10 gene was up-regulated in AP-treated BV-2 microglial cells. AP can affect the inflammatory response and MAPK pathway in BV-2 microglial cells.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.44-50
• /
• 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate the inflammation mechanisms of tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and IL-$1{\beta}$-induced stimulation of A549 human epithelial cells. In the present study, A549 cells were stimulated with TNF-$\alpha$, IL-4 and IL-$1{\beta}$ to induce expression of chemokines and adhesion molecules involved in eosinophil chemotaxis. The effects of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-4 and IL-$1{\beta}$ on gene expression profiles in A549 cells were evaluated by oligonucleotide microarray and Real time RT-PCR. The gene expression profiles for the A549 cells varied depending on the cytokines. Also, the results of the microarray and Real time RT-PCR revealed that inflammatory-related genes were up-regulated in cytokine stimulated A549 cells. Cytokines can affect inflammation in A549 cells. A microarray-based genomic survey is a high-throughput approach that enables evaluation of gene expression in cytokine stimulated cell lines.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.67-79
• /
• 2007

Objectives : The Purposes of this study were to investigate payment system for oriental medical treatment as supplier of medical services, and to estimate reasonable levels of medical fee. Methods : This study made these following results by reviewing the answers which were given by 172 Korea traditional doctors from March 1 to April 15, 2006. Results : General satisfaction of payment system for oriental health insurance was $2.17{\pm}1.01$ $(mean{\pm}SD)$ on a 1-7 scale (median 4) as very low level. Reasonable medical fees which were answered by 172 Korea traditional doctor are higher than present fees, thus Korea traditional doctors think that present fees should be increased. And according to the survey, current insurance fees have a problem of disparity between each treatment fee. Conclusions : According to results of this study, current fees of oriental medical treatment are not rational. And this problem leads to distortion of medical treatment. Additional studies in thls field are needed.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2000.10a
• /
• pp.175.2-175.2
• /
• 2000

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.157-161
• /
• 2001

Mice homozygous for the lethal autosomal recessive anorexia mutation (anx) present with premature death around postnatal day 22. The anorexia mutant mice also present phenotypes such as reduced body weight, decreased food intake, and abnormal behavior characteristics such as body tremors, hyperactivity, uncoordinated gait, and head weaving. In order to investigate the expression of c-Fos in the hippocampus of anorexia mutant mice, the immunohistochemistry was performed in this study. The anorexia mutant mice exhibited lower expression of c-Fos in the hippocampus regions thBn the control group. In the CA3 and dentate gyrus, the number of c-Fos-positive cells in anorexia mutant mice was noticeably lower than that in control mice. However, no significant difference was found in the number of c-Fos-positive cells in CA1 of the two groups. The result suggests that the phenotypic characteristics of anorexia mutant mice may be associated with the hippocampal deficits of c-Fos expression.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.52-54
• /
• 2002

We investigated the changes in oriental medical market based on supply and demand of market in Korea. It is shown that the supply of western medical doctors is 6.6 times as large as that of oriental medical doctors(醫師) in 1998. The supply of western medical doctors(韓醫師) showed the greater increasing rate than that of oriental medical doctors in 1975. However, the supply of western medical doctors was almost the same as that of oriental medical doctors in the increasing rate between 1985 and 1995. Similar trends was observed in the number of hospitals and clinics. From of viewpoint of demand, the use of oriental medicine was remarkably increasing from 1990 to 1997. Oriental medical institution showed a marked increase of 48.1 % in the total medical institution showed an increase of 21.6%. These results provided a strong evidence that oriental medicine had greater increasing rate than western medicine in the supply and demand of medical market and suggest that the use of oriental medicine may play a role in the specialization of oriental medicine.