• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.645-652
• /
• 2008

Purpose: In skin flap surgery, surgeons often encounter distal ischemia of the flap. If a powerful free radical scavenger is used, it may reduce the formation of free radical and improves the survival of flap. Thus, the present study purposed to examine whether the survival of flap can be enhanced by administering melatonin, which is known to be a powerful free radical scavenger a antioxidant molecule. Methods: We divided 40 Sprague-Dawley rats into 4 groups, 10 in each group. For the control group(n=10), we intraperitoneally injected only carrier solution once 30 minutes before the operation, and once a day for 7 days from the day of operation. Among the experimental groups, a group(n=10) was administered with dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO), in another group(n=10), melatonin was intraperitoneally injected, and in the other(n=10) melatonin was intraperitoneally injected and applied topically(2 cc of 1% melatonin) to the operation site. Caudally based skin flaps measuring $3{\times}10cm^2$ were elevated on the mid-dorsum of the rats. and then repositioned. On the seventh postoperative day, the survival area of the flap was measured and tissues were examined under the light microscope. Results: The control group, the DMSO group, the melatonin administration group and the melatonin administration and application group showed the mean survival rates of $55.26{\pm}9.2%$, $70.29{\pm}7.47%$, $81.45{\pm}4.14%$ and $86.1{\pm}1.52%$, respectively, for $30cm^2$ of flap. Compared to the control group, the experimental groups showed a significantly high increase in survival area at significance level of 95%. Conclusion: In this study, the survival rate of flap was enhanced through the administration of melatonin after flap surgery. This suggests that melatonin not only functions as a powerful free radical scavenger and oxygen radical scavenger but also stabilizes and protects cells, and by doing so, enhances the survival of moderately injured ischemic sites in the distal end of flap.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.136-144
• /
• 2014

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Platycarya strobilacea S. et Z. (PSE) extract on mouse hair growth and to determine the mechanism of action of PSE. PSE was purchased and its antioxidant activities, such as electron donating ability, total polyphenol content, and flavonoid content were tested. Toxicity during topical treatment was determined by the CCK-8 assay, a cell viability test. Fifteen 4-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to receive one of three treatments: dimethyl sulfoxide (negative control), minoxidil (positive control) or PSE. Test materials were topically applied to the shaved dorsal skin of each mouse daily for 3 weeks. After 21 days, we observed skin tissue hair follicle morphology and length, mast cell number, and stem cell factor (SCF) expression using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), toluidine blue, and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. Furthermore, the expression of cytokines involved in hair growth [i.e., insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$] was determined by PCR. PSE was found to have very high antioxidant activity. The cell viability rate of PSE-treated mice was markedly higher than that of mice in the control group. We also observed an increase in hair follicle length, strong SCF staining, and a decrease in mast cell number in the PSE group. In addition, PSE-treated mice had higher IGF-1 and KGF expression and lower TGF-${\beta}1$ expression than mice in the minoxidil-treated group. These results suggest that topical application of PSE promotes hair growth by intensifying SCF, suppressing mast cell production, and increasing hair growth-promoting cytokine expression.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.77-81
• /
• 2015

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of embryonic stage and toxicities of cryoprotectant on the rates of survival and development of the cryopreserved mouse early embryo and finally to establish the cryopreservation method of surplus embryos obtained during assisted reproductive technology. Toxicities of two cryoprotectants, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ethylene glycol (EG) were investigated using a murine embryo model. Female F-1 mice were stimulated with gonadotropin, induced ovulation with hCG and mated. Two cell embryos were collected and cultured after exposure to either DMSO or EG. Embryo development was evaluated up to the blastocyst stage. The total cell count of blastocysts that were treated with DMSO ($68.1{\pm}24.1$) at the 2-cell stage was significantly lower than that were treated with EG ($81.2{\pm}27.0$) or the control ($99.0{\pm}18.3$) (p<0.001). On comparison of two cryoprotectant treated groups, the DMSO treated group showed a decreased cell count compared with the EG treated group (p<0.05). Both DMSO ($15.4{\pm}1.5$) and EG ($10.2{\pm}1.4$) treated groups showed higher apoptosis rates of cells in the blastocyst compared with the control ($6.1{\pm}0.9$, p<0.0001). In addition, the DMSO treated group showed more apoptotic cells than the EG treated group (p<0.001). The potential toxicity of cryoprotectants was uncovered by prolonged exposure of murine embryos to either DMSO or EG at room temperature. When comparing two cryoprotective agents, EG appeared to be less toxic than DMSO at least in a murine embryo model.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.173-181
• /
• 2009

One of the most extensively studied populations of multipotent adult stem cells are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs derived from the human umbilical cord vein (HUC-MSCs) are morphologically and immunophenotypically similar to MSCs isolated from bone marrow. HUC-MSCs are multipotent stem cells, differ from hematopoietic stem cells and can be differentiated into neural cells. Since neural tissue has limited intrinsic capacity of repair after injury, the identification of alternate sources of neural stem cells has broad clinical potential. We isolated mesenchymal-like stem cells from the human umbilical cord vein, and studied transdifferentiation-promoting conditions in neural cells. Dopaminergic neuronal differentiation of HUC-MSCs was also studied. Neural differentiation was induced by adding bFGF, EGF, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) in N2 medium and N2 supplement. The immunoreactive cells for $\beta$-tubulin III, a neuron-specific marker, GFAP, an astrocyte marker, or Gal-C, an oligodendrocyte marker, were found. HUC-MSCs treated with bFGF, SHH and FGF8 were differentiated into dopaminergic neurons that were immunopositive for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antibody. HUC-MSCs treated with DMSO and BHA rapidly showed the morphology of multipolar neurons. Both immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of a number of neural markers including NeuroD1, $\beta$-tubulin III, GFAP and nestin was markedly elevated during this acute differentiation. While the stem cell markers such as SCF, C-kit, and Stat-3 were not expressed after neural differentiation, we confirmed the differentiation of dopaminergic neurons by TH/$\beta$-tubulin III positive cells. In conclusion, HUC-MSCs can be differentiated into dopaminergic neurons and these findings suggest that HUC-MSCs are alternative cell source of therapeutic treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.47-52
• /
• 2006

This study was conducted to examine whether the parthenogenetic mouse embryonic stem (P-mES) cells can differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes in vitro similar to (mES) cells. p-mES04 and IVF-derived mES03 cells were cultured by suspension culture for 4 days. The formed embryoid bodies (EBs) were treated with 0.75% dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) for further 4 days (4-/4+), and then plated onto gelatin coated culture dish. The appearance of contracting cardiomyocytes from the P-mES04 and mES03 cells was examined for 30 days. The highest cumulative frequency was detected at days 13 (69.83%) and 22 (61.3%), respectively. By immunocytochemistry, beating P-mES04 cells were positively stained with muscle specific anti-sarcomeric a-actinin Ab and cardiac specific anti-cardiac troponin I Ab similar to contracted mES03 cells. When the expression of cardiac muscle-specific genes was analyzed by RT-PCR, beating P-mES04 cells were expressed cardiac specific L-type calcium channel, a1C, cardiac myosin heavy chain a, cardiac muscle heavy polypeptide $7{\beta}$, GATA binding protein 4 and atrial natriuretic factor, but not expressed skeletal muscle specific L-type calcium channel, a1S, which was similar to male adult heart cells and mES03-derived beating cardiomyocytes. The result demonstrates that the P-mES cells can be used as an alternative for the study on the characteristic analysis of in vitro cardiomyocyte differentiation from the ES cells.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.776-784
• /
• 2014

Korean dishes, Hansik are characterized by healthful vegetable intake. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of commonly consumed vegetables by Koreans on obesity/metabolic disease-related inflammation. Through statistical analysis of the KNHANES database ($1^{st}$ 1998, $5^{th}$ 2010, 2011) and a literature review, we selected vegetables for study. Among the vegetables, main or sub ingredients of Kimchi were excluded. Samples were prepared using only edible portions and freeze-dried. After grinding, samples were extracted with ethanol, evaporated and finally lyophilized. The cytotoxicity of samples was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, at various concentrations that do not affect cell viability. Raw 264.7 macrophages were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 11 kinds of samples or positive control (troglitazone) dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). After 24 hours, nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production were determined. Excepts for young pumpkin and bracken, nine samples effectively reduced NO production compared with control treated with LPS and DMSO. NO levels of five samples (bean sprouts, leeks, eggplant, mugwort, and pumpkin) were similar to that of the positive control. These five samples showed significantly decreased TNF-${\alpha}$ or MCP-1 compared to the control group. Our results suggest that consumption of commonly consumed vegetables contributes to partial prevention of obesity and related metabolic syndrome through reduction of NO, TNF-${\alpha}$, and MCP-1 production.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.504-510
• /
• 1992

Several single or mixed water-miscible organic solvent systems were investigated to develop the most effective solvent system for enzymatic synthesis of N-benzoylaspartame(BzAPM). The BzAPM was prepared by immobilized thermolysin with using N-benzoyl-L-aspartic acid(Bz-Asp) and L-phenylalanine methyl ester(PheOMe). The solubilities of BzAPM and L-phenylalanine were highest in 4.5% methanol(1.89 and 1.79%, respectively) among the solvents system investigated while a mixed solvent system of 25% dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) and 20% polyethylene glycol(PEG) 200 showed relatively high values. The synthetic activity of BzAPM as well as initial reaction rate were found to be high in 45% methanol, 45% DMSO and a mixed solvent of 25% DMSO and 20% PEM 200. The imobilized thermolysin was most stable in 25% DMSO and 20% PEG 200 during storage at $40^{\circ}C$ for 42 days. PheOMe in the same solvent system was also found fairly stable against non-enzymatic decomposition at $40^{\circ}C$. Based on the synthetic efficiency and stability, the solvent system containing 25% DMSO and 20% PEG 200 was selected to be appropriate for the enzymatic synthesis of BzAPM.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.176-187
• /
• 1983

Volatile flavor components of garlic and factors which influence on its flavors were reviewed. Growth, storage and processing conditions influence on the flavor intensity of garlic. To intensify garlic flavors, it is desirable that sufficient sulfate nutrition be supplied to the soil of growing garlic and that the suggested proportions of mineral composition and water content be considered. And to maintain the flavor intensity of post harvested garlic, flavor losses taken place during over inter storage mainly due to respiration, sprout and decay, have to be minimized. Among the various storage methods, combination method of post harvest hot-air drying and low temperature ($0^{\circ}C$), low humidity (RH 70-75%) is useful. The flavor of processed garlic is very much decreased as compared with that of fresh, and the decreasing rate of flavors depends on processing method. The synthetic garlic flavors were obtained by three types based on intermediate thiosulfinate, S-alk(en) yl-$\small{L}$-cyteine sulfoxlde-alliinase fission products and $\small{L}$-5-alk (en)yl thiomethylhydantoin ${\pm}$ S-oxides. These synthetic garlic flavors may be promised to be applied to food additives.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.24-30
• /
• 2011

Objective: The objectives of this study were to analyze efficacy of immature and mature mouse oocytes after vitrification and warming by applying various combinations of cryoprotectants (CPAs) and/or super-rapid cooling using slush nitrogen ($SN_2$). Methods: Four-week old ICR female mice were superovulated for GV- and MII-stage oocytes. Experimental groups were divided into two groups. Ethylene glycol (EG) only group: pre-equilibrated with 1.5 M EG for 2.5 minutes and then equilibrated with 5.5 M EG and 1.0 M sucrose for 20 seconds. EG+dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) group: pre-equilibrated with 1.3 M EG+1.1 M DMSO for 2.5 minutes and equilibrated with 2.7 M EG+2.1 M DMSO+0.5 M sucrose for 20 seconds. The oocytes were loaded onto grids and plunged into $SN_2$or liquid nitrogen ($LN_2$). Stored oocytes were warmed by a five-step method, and then their survival, maturation, cleavage, and developmental rates were observed. Results: The EG only and EG+DMSO groups showed no significant difference in survival of immature oocytes vitrified after warming. However, maturation and cleavage rates after conventional insemination were greater in the EG only group than in the EG+DMSO group. In mature oocytes, survival, cleavage, and blastocyst formation rates after warming showed no significant difference when EG only or EG+DMSO was applied. Furthermore, cleavage and blastocyst formation rates of MII oocytes vitrified using $SN_2$ were increased in both the EG only and EG+DMSO groups. Conclusion: A combination of CPAs in oocyte cryopreservation could be formulated according to the oocyte stage. In addition, $SN_2$ may improve the efficiency of vitrification by reducing cryoinjury.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.100-106
• /
• 2017

This study was conducted to evaluate the genotoxicity of balanced nutritional formular for patients containing various ingredients after gamma irradiation at 4 kGy. Since viable bacteria were not observed within the detection limit of 1 log CFU/g, a dose of 4 kGy was appropriate for the pasteurization of the formular. In a bacterial reverse mutation assay, both hot water and methanol extracts of the formular exhibited dose-independent responses, which was similar to those obtained from that of the negative control (distilled water or dimethyl sulfoxide). In a chromosomal aberration test using lung fibroblast cells of Chinese hamster, the numbers of normal chromosomes were comparable to those observed in the negative control, regardless of the treatment dose and metabolic activation system. Furthermore, no significant increases in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes were observed relative to the control, when mice were fed with the formular at doses up to 2,000 mg/kg body weight. Therefore, the balanced nutritional formular for patients did not exhibit genotoxicity when pasteurization by gamma irradiation at 4 kGy.