• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.78-87
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• 2020

Objectives: To expand and provide information on the efficacy of herbal medicines, anti-obesity effects were evaluated. In many studies, plant-derived components with anti-obesity efficacies have been investigated for their potential inhibitory effects on 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of 65 herbal medicine in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. Methods: Preferentially, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with 65 herbal medicines (500 ㎍/mL) during differentiation for 8 days. Next, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with selected herbal medicines at concentrations ranging from 50 to 200 ㎍/mL during differentiation for 8 days. The accumulation of lipid droplets was determined by Oil Red O staining. The expressions of genes related to adipogenesis were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. Results: Among the 65 kinds of herbal medicines, 13 herbal medicines that been shown to be effective against the accumulation of lipid droplets were selected. Finally, selected Banhasasim-tang and Samhwangsasim-tang showed inhibitory activity on adipocyte differentiation at 3T3-L1 preadipocytes without affecting cell toxicity. In addition, Banhasasim-tang and Samhwangsasim-tang significantly reduced the expression levels of several adipocyte marker genes including peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α. Conclusions : These results suggest that the ability of Banhasasim-tang and Samhwangsasimtang has inhibited overall adipogenesis and lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 cells. Banhasasim-tang and Samhwangsasim-tang may be a promising medicine for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders.

• CELLMED
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.8
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• 2021

Background: The Unani system of medicine has been practised since centuries for the treatment of a range of diseases. In spite of their efficacy they have been widely criticised due to the lack of standardization and poor quality control. Standardization of Unani medicine is a valuable issue at the present because they are very prone to contamination, deterioration, adulteration and variation in composition due to biodiversity as well as careless collection. Objective: To Standardize and Development of HPTLC Fingerprinting of a polyherbal Unani formulation Qurs-e-Safa. Materials and methods: The conventional and modern analytical techniques were used to standardise Qurs-e-Safa. The study was carried into three different batches of Qurs-e-Safa prepared with its ingredients. The parameters studied are organoleptic, microscopic, physicochemical parameters, phytochemical screening, TLC, HPTLC profile, aflatoxin, microbial load and heavy metal analysis. Results and conclusion: Qurṣ-e-Sa'fa is dark yellow in colour and aromatic smell. Uniformity of diameter and weight variation were found to be 13 ± 0, and 524.7 ± 1.72 mg. friability, hardness and disintegration time of all 3 batches were found to be (0.0615 ± 0.004, 0.0885 ± 0.0047 and 0.0725 ± 0.0058), (3.5 ± 0.2886, 3.67 ± 0.1674 and 3.67 ± 0.1674) and (16 to 17 minutes). Extractive value were found to be maximum in distilled water (38.488 ± 0.20, 37.3824 ± 0.38 and 39.8177 ± 0.13) followed by alcohol (27.5406 ± 0.54, 27.5656 ± 0.32 and 26.9229 ± 0.25). Loss of weight on drying, pH, total ash, acid insoluble ash, qualitative test was set in. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of Carbohydrates, Phenols, Resins, Proteins, Steroids, fixed oil and Flavonoids. The microbial load was found absent and heavy metals were within permissible limits. The data evolved from the study may serve as a reference to validate and also help in the quality control of other finished products in future research.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.147-162
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• 2021

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of glycine powder air-polishing (GPAP) in patients during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) compared to hand instrumentation and ultrasonic scaling. Methods: The authors searched for randomized clinical trials in 8 electronic databases for relevant studies through November 15, 2019. The eligibility criteria were as follows: population, patients with chronic periodontitis undergoing SPT; intervention and comparison, patients treated by GPAP with a standard/nozzle type jet or mechanical instrumentation; and outcomes, bleeding on probing (BOP), patient discomfort/pain (assessed by a visual analogue scale [VAS]), probing depth (PD), gingival recession (Rec), plaque index (PI), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival epithelium score, and subgingival bacteria count. After extracting the data and assessing the risk of bias, the authors performed the meta-analysis. Results: In total, 17 studies were included in this study. The difference of means for BOP in patients who received GPAP was lower (difference of means: -8.02%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -12.10% to -3.95%; P<0.00001; I²=10%) than that in patients treated with hand instrumentation. The results of patient discomfort/pain measured by a VAS (difference of means: -1.48, 95% CI, -1.90 to -1.06; P<0.001; I²=83%) indicated that treatment with GPAP might be less painful than ultrasonic scaling. The results of PD, Rec, PI, and CAL showed that GPAP had no advantage over hand instrumentation or ultrasonic scaling. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that GPAP may alleviate gingival inflammation more effectively and be less painful than traditional methods, which makes it a promising alternative for dental clinical use. With regards to PD, Rec, PI, and CAL, there was insufficient evidence to support a difference among GPAP, hand instrumentation, and ultrasonic scaling. Higher-quality studies are still needed to assess the effects of GPAP.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and microbiological efficacy of adjunctive local delivery of minocycline (Periocline^®) in patients receiving supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) after initial treatment. Methods: The participants were 16 men and 8 women (age, 20-65 years) who had at least 15 natural teeth, underwent SPT for more than 1 year due to chronic periodontitis, had 4 or more periodontal pocket sites deeper than 5 mm, and showed >25% gingival bleeding on probing (BoP). They were randomly assigned to the test and control groups. In the test group, mechanical debridement and local antibiotic delivery were performed for all periodontal sulci/pockets; in the control group, mechanical debridement and saline irrigation were performed. In patients who underwent SPT for more than 1 year, clinical and microbiological examinations were performed at baseline and 1 and 3 months after SPT. The clinical examination included an assessment of the periodontal pocket depth, clinical attachment level, plaque index, and BoP. Microbial tests were performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction; the relative ratios of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum were determined. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in clinical parameters at 1 and 3 months from baseline; there were no significant changes between months 1 and 3. Intergroup differences were insignificant. The microbiological analysis revealed no significant differences in P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum ratios across time points. While intergroup differences were insignificant, there was a tendency for the P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum ratios to decrease in the test group. Conclusions: Mechanical debridement in patients receiving maintenance therapy resulted in clinically significant improvement; the effectiveness of additional local delivery of antibiotics was not significant. The ratios of P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum showed a tendency to decrease in the test group, although it was not significant.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.118-125
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• 2021

In this study Orostachys japonica A. Berger used is a medicinal herb that has long been used as a folk remedy for cancer treatment. In this study, the antioxidant efficacy of the ethyl acetate fraction of Orostachys japonica A. Berger was confirmed. The results of the Orostachys japonica A. Berge ethyl acetate fraction of antioxidant activity assays showed Antioxidant effect of Orostachys japonica A. Berger EtOAc fraction extract at 0.10 mg/mL was showed a DPPH radical scavenging rate of 78.54% and ABTS+ radical scavenging rate of 73.48%. Also, the toxicity result of Orostachys japonica A. Berger EtOAc fraction extracts using alternative experimental animal model zebrafish, confirmed a 100% the survival of the zebrafish embryo was shown that there was no coagulation and no hatching delay at all concentrations. also ROS generation induced by UV-B irradiation was confirmed that the fluorescence intensity decreased as a whole in all larvae treated with Orostachys japonica A. Berger EtOAc fraction extracts. In particular, it was confirmed that ROS generation was effectively suppressed by showing a 35.7% reduction rate compared to the positive control at a concentration of 3 ㎍/mL. These results were confirmed that Orostachys japonica A. Berger EtOAc fraction extracts has the possibility of application in the cosmetics field as a natural antioxidant.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.361-369
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• 2020

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common and multifactorial inflammatory skin disease that is characterized by skin barrier dysfunction, inflammation, and chronic pruritus. AD has a complex etiology that includes genetic, immunological, and environmental factors that cause skin barrier abnormalities and immune dysfunctions. Sophora flavescens (SF) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, but little research has been conducted on its anti-AD efficacy. In this study, we evaluated the effect of SF extract (SFE) on improving skin barrier function and immune abnormalities, which are the main symptoms of AD. SFE has the capacity to enhance the formation of cornified envelope (CE) that plays an important role in the skin barrier function. In addition, it was confirmed that SFE increased the expression of hyaluronic acid related to skin moisture. The effect of SFE against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), which increases specifically in AD lesions, confirmed that SFE inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by S. aureus. Furthermore, SFE was shown to inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by substance P (SP), the cause of skin neurogenic inflammation. These results demonstrate that SFE could be one of potential candidate agent for the treatment of AD by improving the skin barrier function and immune responses.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.247-257
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• 2021

In this work, Iron Nano-Particles Impregnated BioChar/bead (INPBC/bead) soil amendment was developed to increase biochar's reactivity to As in soil and preventing possible wind loss. Prior to preparation of INPBC/bead, INPBC was produced utilizing lignocellulosic biomass and Fe(III) solution in a hydrothermal method, followed by a calcination process. Then, the bead type amendment, INPBC/bead was produced by cross-linking reaction of alginate with INPBC. FT-IR, XRD, BET, and SEM-EDS analyses were utilized to characterize the as-synthesised materials. The particle size range of INPBC/bead was 1-4 mm, and different oxygen-containing functional groups and Fe3O4 crystalline phase were produced on the surface of INPBC/bead, according to the characterization results. The soil cultivation test was carried out in order to assess the stabilization performance of INPBC/bead utilizing As and Pb-contaminated soil obtained from an abandoned mining location in South Korea. After 4 weeks of culture, TCLP and SPLP extraction tests were performed to assess the stabilization efficacy of the amendment. The TCLP and SPLP findings revealed that raising the application ratio improved stabilizing efficiency. The As stabilization efficiency was determined to be 81.56 % based on SPLP test findings for a 5% in (w/w) INPBC/bead treatment, and the content of Pb in extracts was reduced to the limit of detection. According to the findings of this study, INPBC/bead that can maintain pH of origin soil and minimize wind loss might be a potential amendment for soil polluted with As and heavy metals.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2022

Background: Postoperative analgesia (POA) is an important determinant of successful treatment. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has recently gained attention as a promising adjuvant to local anesthetics (LA). The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of levobupivacaine (LB) as an adjuvant during inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) in the extraction of lower impacted third molars (LITM). Methods: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blind, parallel-arm, and clinical study was performed on 50 systemically healthy participants who required removal of an asymptomatic LITM. Using a 1:1 distribution, the participants were randomized into two groups (n = 25). Group L (control group) received 1.8 mL of 0.5% LB and 0.2 mL normal saline (placebo) and Group D (study group) received a blend of 1.8 mL of 0.5% LB and 0.2 mL (20 ㎍) DEX. The primary outcome variable was the duration of POA and hemodynamic stability, and the secondary variable was the total number of analgesics required postoperatively for up to 72 h. The participants were requested to record the time of rescue analgesic use and the total number of rescue analgesics taken. The area under the curve was plotted for the total number of analgesics administered. The pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale. Data analysis was performed using paired students and unpaired t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test, and receiver operating characteristic analysis. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The latency, profoundness of anesthesia, and duration of POA were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The differences between mean pain scores at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h were found to be significant (each P = 0.0001). Fewer analgesics were required by participants in group D (2.12 ± 0.33) than in L (4.04 ± 0.67), with a significant difference (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: Perineurally administered LA with DEX is a safe, effective, and therapeutic approach for improving latency, providing profound POA, and reducing the need for postoperative analgesia.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.58-65
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• 2021

As aging progresses, reactive oxygen species (ROS) reduces skin moisturization and collapses skin barrier function. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of skin moisturizing and skin barrier function enhancement by extracts from halophytes using HaCaT cells. Spartina anglica (S. anglica; SAE) and Calystegia soldanella (C. soldanella; CSE), a kind of halophytes, were collected from Dongmak beach in Incheon, and extracted with 70% ethanol. At the first, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of extracts in HaCaT cell using WST-8 Kit. As a result, the other experiment was conducted by setting the concentration at which the cell viability was 90% or more. SAE and CSE showed high radical scavenging activity through ABTS assay. Expression levels of genes related to skin moisturizing and skin barrier functions, were analyzed by real-time qPCR. As a result, it showed that the expression of aquaporin 3, hyaluronan synthase 2, and transglutaminase 1 was increased by SAE treatment but not changed by CSE. Activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase was induced by SAE. These results suggest that SAE can be used as functional materials for cosmetics for skin moisturizing and barrier function enhancement.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2022

We examined the anti-inflammatory properties of Nostoc commune HCW0811 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. The anti-inflammatory activity of HCW0811 on viability of treated cells was assessed by measuring the level of expression of NO, prostaglandin E₂ and pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in HCW0811 treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. HCW0811 was non-toxic to cells and inhibited the production of cytokines in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition its treatment suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner, and concomitantly decreased the protein expressions of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. Moreover, the levels of the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase family proteins such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p38, and nuclear factor kappa B were reduced by HCW0811. These findings suggest that the HCW0811 collected from Daejeon National Cemetery have anti-inflammatory effects, and demonstrated its efficacy in cell-based in vitro assays.