• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.183-196
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• 2001

In the literatual study on the Saenghwatang, the results were as follows. 1. Saenghwatang is composed of Danggui, Chunkoong, Doin, Kunkang and Kamcho. Saenghwatang was used with Ikmohwan and Ikmocho for the purpose of treatment of puerperal congestive pain 2. Activating blood circulation and congestion, warming body & blood circulation, increasing blood flood, controlling pain, removing the coldness & congestion and creating new blood are the effects of Saenghwatang. 3. The indications of Saenghwatang are no excretion of pilleus, puerperal coldness and hotness, congestive pain, dizziness, the coldness of extremities, chiorrhea, bleeding, asthma and etc. 4. Saenghwatang have the effects of puerperal contractility in theuterus, activating lactation, removing inflammation and antiplat-elet aggregation. Therefore it can be applied to puerperal disease, hysteromyoma, endopelvic congestion, postabortal contineous bleeding, endometritis, menorrhalgia, gastralgia of cold congestion, infertility of cold uterus; every congestive symtoms.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.57-57
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• 2001

Intracellular pH(pH$\sub$i/) is strictly regulated since it is related to various cellular events such as contractility, signal transduction, ion regulation, cell volume, and energy production etc. In physiological conditions, pH$\sub$i/ of arteriolar smooth muscle faced substantial pressure to be changed during the regulation of blood flow. Therefore it is very important to know the regulatory mechanism of pH$\sub$i/.(omitted)

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.185-189
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• 2021

Herein, we propose a functional polymer cantilever to enhance maturation and contractile force of cardiomyocytes. The proposed cantilever consists of a surface-patterned polymer substrate and silver nanowires (AgNWs). The AgNWs are transferred to the PDMS substrate using conventional molding techniques. This thin metallic surface significantly improves the adhesion of cardiomyocyte on the surface-patterned PDMS with the hydrophobic characteristics. In addition, the use of AgNWs improves the visibility of the conducting PDMS substrate for the observation of cardiomyocyte through an inverted microscope. The AgNWs also assist in synchronizing each cardiomyocyte to maximize its contractile force.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.887-893
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• 2003

External stimuli increases intracellular (IC) $Ca^{2+}$, which increases extracellular (EC) $K^{+}$. To verify $K^{+}$ effects on the vascular contraction, we performed an experiment using mouse aortic endothelial cell. Meterial and Method: We examined the mouse aortic contractility changes as we measured the IC $Ca^{2+}$ change and ionic current by using the voltage clamp technique under different conditions such as: increasing EC $K^{+}$, removing endothelial cell, giving L-NAME (N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) which suppress nitric oxide formation, Ouabain which control N $a^{+}$ - $K^{+}$ pump and N $i^{2+}$ which repress N $a^{+}$-C $a^{2+}$ exchanger Result: When we increased EC $K^{+}$ from 6 to 12 mM, there was no change in aortic contractility. Aorta contracted with more than 12 mM of EC $K^{+}$. Ace-tylcholine (ACh) induced relaxation was inhibited with EC $K^{+}$ from 6 to 12 mM, but was not found after de-endothelialization or L-NAME treatment. ATP or ACh increased IC $Ca^{2+}$ in cultured endothelium. After maximal increase of IC $Ca^{2+}$, increasing EC $K^{+}$ from 6 to 12 mM made IC $Ca^{2+}$ decrease and re-decreasing EC $K^{+}$ to 6 mM made IC $Ca^{2+}$ increase. Ouabain and N $i^{2+}$ masked the inhibitory effect of endothelium dependent relaxation by increased EC $K^{+}$. Conclusion: These data indicate that increase in EC $K^{+}$ relaxes vascular smooth muscle and reduces $Ca^{2+}$ in the endothelial cells which inhibit endothelium dependent relaxation. This inhibitory mechanism may be due to the activation of N $a^{+}$- $K^{+}$ pump and N $a^{+}$-C $a^{2+}$ exchanger. $a^{+}$-C $a^{2+}$ exchanger.r.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.359-381
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• 1992

This study was designed to investigate the effect of diazepam on the spontaneous contraction and oxytocin induced contraction of the isolated rat uterus. Female rat(Sprague-Dawley) pretreated with oophorectomy and 4 days administration of estrogen, weighing about 200 g, was sacrificed by cervical dislocation, and the uteruses were isolated. A longitudinal muscle strip was placed in temperature controlled($37^{\circ}C$) muscle chamber containing Locke's solution and myographied isometrically. Diazepam inhibited the spontaneous contraction and oxytocin induced contraction of the isolated rat uterus in a concentration-dependent manner. GABA, muscimol, a GABA A receptor agonist, bicuculline, a competitive GAGA A receptor antagonist, picrotoxin, a non competitive GABA A receptor antagonist, baclofen, a GABA B receptor agonist, and delta-aminovaleric acid, a GABA B receptor antagonist, did not affect on the spontaneous and oxytocin induced contraction of the isolated rat uterus. The inhibitory actions of diazepam on the spontaneous and oxytocin induced contraction were not affected by all the GABA receptor agonists and antagonists, but exceptionally potentiated by bicuculline. This potentiation-effect by bicuculline was not antagonized by muscimol. In normal calcium PSS, addition of calcium restored the spontaneous contraction preinhibited by diazepam and recovered the contractile of oxytocin preinhibited by diazepam. A23187, a calcium inophore, enhanced the restoration of both the spontaneous and oxytocin induced contraction by addition of calcium. In calcium-free PSS, diazepam suppressed the restoration of spontaneous motility by addition of calcium but allowed the recovery of spontaneous motility to a considerable extent. Diazepam could not inhibit some development of contractility by oxytocin in calcium-free PSS, but inhibited the increase in contractility by subsequent addition of calcium. These results suggest that the inhibitory action of diazepam on the rat uterine motility does not depend on or related to GABA receptors and that diazepam inhibits the extracellular calcium influx to suppress the spontaneous and oxytocin induced contractilities.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.345-355
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• 2010

Background: Extracellular and intracellular pH ($pH_o$ and $pH_i$), which can be changed in various pathological conditions such as hypoxia, affects vascular contractility. To elucidate the mechanism to alter vascular contractility by pH, the effects of pH on reactivity to vasocontracting agents, intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx, and $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle were examined. Material and Method: Isometric contractions in rat superior mesenteric arteries (SMA) were observed. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) was recorded by microfluorometer using Fura-2/acetoxylmethyl ester in muscle cells. $pH_o$ was increased from 7.4 to 7.8 or decreased to 6.9 or 6.4. $pH_i$ was decreased by applying $NH_4^+$ or propionic acid or modulated by changing $pH_o$ after increasing membrane permeability using $\beta$-escin. Result: Decreases in $pH_o$ from 7.4 to 6.9 or 6.4 shifted concentration-response curve by norepinephrine (NE) or serotonin (SE) to the right and significantly increased half maximal effective concentration (EC50) to NE or SE. Increase in $pH_o$ from 7.4 to 7.8 shifted concentration-response curve by norepinephrine (NE) or serotonin (SE) to the left and significantly reduced EC50 to NE or SE. NE increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in cultured smooth muscle cells from SMA and the increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was reduced by decreases in $pH_o$. NE-induced contraction was inhibited by $NH_4^+$, whereas the resting tension was increased by $NH_4^+$ or propionic acid. When the cell membrane of SMA was permeabilized using ${\beta}$-escin, SMA was contracted by increasing extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration from 0 to $10{\mu}M$ and the magnitude of contraction was decreased by a decrease in $pH_o$ and vice versa. Conclusion: From these results, it can be concluded that a decrease in $pH_o$ might inhibit vascular contraction by reducing the reactivity of vascular smooth muscle to vasoactive agents, $Ca^{2+}$ influx and the sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle to $Ca^{2+}$.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.318-333
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• 2008

Objectives : In this study, the author tried to examine whether Cheogjogupye-tang (淸燥救肺湯, CGPT) and Yieum-jeon (理陰煎, YEJ) significantly affect in vitro and in vivo mucin secretion, MUC5AC gene expression in airway epithelial cells and contractility of isolated tracheal smooth muscle of rabbit. Materials and Methods : For in vitro experiment, confluent hamster tracheal surface epithelial (HTSE) cells were chased for 30 minutes in the presence of CGPT and YEJ to assess the effects of the agents on mucin secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with removal of oriental herbal medicine extract from each agent-treated sample by centrifuge microfilter. Also, the effects of the agents on TNF-alpha or EGF-induced MUC5AC gene expression in human airway epithelial cells (NCI-H292) were investigated. Possible cytotoxicities of the agent were assessed by examining both LDH release from HTSE cells and the rate of survival and proliferation of NCI-H292 cells. For in vivo experiment, hypersecretion of airway mucin and goblet cell hyperplasia was induced by exposure of rats to $SO_2$ over 3 weeks. Effects of CGPT and YEJ orally administered for 1 week on in vivo mucin secretion from tracheal goblet cells of rats and hyperplasia of goblet cells were assessed using ELISA and histological analysis after staining the epithelial tissue with alcian blue, respectively. Also, the effects of CGPT and YEJ on contractility of isolated tracheal smooth muscle were investigated. Results : (1) CGPT significantly inhibited in vitro mucin secretion from cultured HTSE cells. However, YEJ did not affect in vitro mucin secretion; (2) CGPT and YEJ did not affect hypersecretion of in vivo mucin and hyperplasia of tracheal goblet cells; (3) CGPT and YEJ slightly increased the expression levels of TNF-alpha or EGF-induced MUC5AC gene in NCI-H292 cells; (4) CGPT and YEJ inhibited acetylcholine-induced contraction of isolated tracheal smooth muscle of rabbit; (5) CGPT and YEJ did not affect LDH release from HTSE cells and the survival and proliferation of NCI-H292 cells. Conclusion : The results from the present study suggest that CGPT and YEJ mainly affect the expression of mucin gene rather than secretion of mucin and do not show remarkable cytotoxicity to respiratory epithelial cells.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 1970

It is well known that the uterine contractility is affected by sexual hormone. In this experiment, the authors attempted to study the influences of testosterone and estrogen or the uterine contractility to oxytocics. The contractile sensitivity of the excised uterine muscle of non-castrated and castrated rabbits with testosterone and estrogen 24 hours before experiment is observed respectively. And the cholinesterase activity and electrolytes (Na, K, Ca and Mg) in the uterine muscle are measured in order to study the relationship with contractile sensitivity and those changes. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The contractile effect of spareng on the excised uterine muscle of non-castrated rabbits pretreated with estrogen was markedly increased in small dose, but that of rabbits pretreated with testosterone was significantly increased in large dose, comparing with that of the control group. In castrated rabbits, the contractile sensitivity of the uterine muscle to spareng was significantly increased by pretreatment with estrogen in large dose but it was markedly decreased by pretreatment with testosterone in small dose. 2. The contractile effect of quinine on the excised uterine muscle of non-castrated rabbits pretreated with estrogen was significantly decreased but that of castrated rabbits pretreated with both estrogen and testosterone were markedly increased comparing with that of the control group. 3. The cholinesterase activity in the uterine muscle of non-castrated rabbits was significantly increased by pretreatment with small dose of estrogen or large dose of testosterone, but that of castrated rabbits was markedly decreased by pretreatment with large dose of estrogen. 4. Na and K contents in the uterine muscle of non-castrated rabbits were markedly increased by pretreatment with both estrogen and testosterone, but that of castrated rabbits was significantly increased by pretreatment with small dose of estrogen. 5. Ca content in uterine muscle of non-castrated rabbits was significantly decreased by pretreatment with both large dose of estrogen and testosterone but increased by pretreatment of testosterone. In castrated rabbits, Ca content was significantly decreased by pretreatment with both estrogen and testosterone. 6. Mg content in the uterine muscle of non-castrated rabbits was markedly increased by pretreatment with estrogen and small dose of testosterone, but that of castrated rabbits was significantly decreased by pretreatment with both large dose of estrogen and testosterone.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.43-54
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• 1974

The cactus family Cactaceae, numbering about 1,500 species, is a fleshy-stemmed perennial plant which is principally distributed in the south and north America. On the other hand, the cactus plant is presumed to be introduced into Korea in 1912-1945, thereafter it has been cultivated merely in favor of ornamentation with the exception of being occasionally used as medication among laymen. Opuntia elata which belongs to Opuntia genus, the Cactaceae family is one of the cacti being cultivated a great deal in Korea. Cho et. al. reported in 1974 that Opuntia dilenii manifested the cardiac inhibitory effect and oxytocic effect, and its mechanism might be partially due to the direct action. Besides this, there are few reports on the pharmacological research concerning Opuntia genus to be demonstrated in Korea. However, some other cacti have the remarkable pharmacological effects; the active ingredients, mescaline, anhalamine, anhalanine, etc. from Peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii) belonging to Lophophora genus have the psychotomimetic and sympathomimetic effects, and the cardioactive glycosides from Cactus Grandifolius (Selenicereus grandiflorus) belonging to Cereus genus have the cardioactive and diuretic effects. The authors hereby inquired into this study to find out the propriety of the pharmacological properties of the ethanol extract of Opuntia elata (EX) on the heart, blood pressure, respiration, intestine and uterus in the experimental animals. The results of the experiment were as follows: 1. Administration of EX manifested the cardiac inhibitory effect caused by the negative inotropic action in the isolated heart of frog, and the pretreatment of atropine did not affect the inhibitory effect produced by EX. 2. Administration of EX manifested the transient hypotensive effect in the intact rabbit, and the pretreatment of atropine did not affect the hypotensive effect produced by EX. 3. Administration of the small dose of EX manifested no significant effect, but moderate dose or more the stimulating effect, and the large dose the asphyxia on the respiratory motility in the intact rabbit. 4. Administration of EX manifested the sustained augmentation of contractility in the excised duodenum of rabbit, and the pretreatment of atropine did not affect the stimulating effect produced by EX. 5. Administration of EX manifested the sustained augmentation of contractility in the excised pregnant uterus of rabbit, and the pretreatment of atropine and oxytocin did not affect the oxytocic effect produced by EX, but that of barium chloride more or less stimulated the oxytocic effect produced by EX.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.181-190
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• 1994

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) activates guanylate cyclase which mediates the formation of cGMP from GTP in vascular smooth muscle. It is well known that endothelium-dependent relaxation is impaired in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). However, it is still unknown whether the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in SHR results from the reduced release of EDRF or from the decrease of vascular response to EDRF. We investigated the effects of cGMP on the contractility and Ca movement in the aorta of SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The amplitude of the endothelium-dependent relaxation to actylcholine (ACh) was significantly less in SHR than in WKY. L-arginine $(10^{-3}M)$ did not increase endothelium-dependent relaxation in both strains. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an activator of guanylate cyclase, relaxed the 40 mM $K^+-induced$ contraction in a dose-dependent manner $(10^{-10}{\sim}10^{-6}\;M)$ in the endothelium-rubbed aortic strips of both strains. However, there was no significant difference in these relaxations between WKY and SHR. 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP), a cell membrane-permeable derivative of cGMP relaxed the 40 mM $K^+-induced$ contraction in a dose-dependent manner $(10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-4}\;M)$ in the endothelium-rubbed aortic strips of both strains. Also norepinephrine $(10^{-6}\;M)-induced$ contractions in normal and Ca-free Tyrode's solution were suppressed by the pretreatment with 8-Br-cGMP $(10^{-4}\;M)$ in either strain. However, the amplitudes of suppression induced by 8-Br-cGMP were greater in SHR than that in WKY. Basal $^{45}Ca$ uptake and 40mM $K^+-stimulated\;^{45}Ca$ uptake were not suppressed by pretreatment with 8-Br-cGMP $(10^{-4}\;M)$ in single aortic smooth muscle cells of both SHR and WKY. From the above results, it is suggested that cGMP decreases Ca sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle cells and that the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in the aortic strips of SHR is not the result of a reduced vascular response to EDRF.