• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.167-178
• /
• 2009

Two poorly known and often confused pleurostomatid ciliates, Litonotus paracygnus Song, 1994 and L. pictus Gruber, 1884, were collected from the coastal waters of Yeonggeumjeong and Bongpo-port, Gangwondo in the East Sea and from the Iwon tide embankment near Ganwol-do, Chungcheongnam-do in the Yellow Sea, Korea. These species were described based on live observations, the protargol-impregnation and morphometrics of the species. Also provided are their diagnoses. The small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequences of these species were compared with previously known sequences of related species. The diagnostics of the two Litonotus species are as follows. L. paracygnus: 150-300 $\mu$m long in vivo, strongly contractile neck region, two ellipsoid macronuclei (Ma) and one micronucleus (Mi), 7 left (LSK) and 11-14 right somatic kineties (RSK), 2-4 contractile vacuoles (CV) located on the posterior end, extrusemes (Ex) distributed on the anterior region of the ventral margin only. L. pictus: about 200-600 $\mu$m long in vivo, extremely contractile, beautiful body color with rows of yellow to yellow-brownish cortical pigment granules, 12-21 Ma arranged in moniliform pattern, infrequently vermiform, 7-11 LSK and 18-26 RSK, several CV located on both margins, Ex distributed on the anterior region of the ventral margin only. In this study, this genus was firstly recorded in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.327-331
• /
• 2006

Zingiber officinale and Hizikia fusiforme(sea weed fusiforme) have long been used for food sources in Korea. The present study was performed to investigate the ex vivo effect of Zingiber officinale and Hizikia fusiforme on NO production in macrophage of mice. Seven to eight week old mices(Balb/c) were fed chew diet ad libitum and water extract of Zingiber officinale and Hizikia fusiforme was administrated orally at two different concentrations (50 and 500 mg/kg B.W.). every other day for two or four weeks NO(nitric oxide) production by activated macrophage was assessed by measuring nitrite, the stable NO metabolite, using Griess reaction assay. NO production were significantly enhanced in Zingiber officinale group at 500 mg/kg B.W. and in Hizikia fusiforme group at 50 mg/kg B.W. compared to the coresponding control groups. In conclusion, this study may suggest that Zingiber officinale and Hizikia fusiforme(sea weed fusiforme) extracts enhance the immune function by regulating NO production in macrophages of mice.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.259-264
• /
• 2007

Ginger(Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has been used as a raw material in many various traditional preparations since the ancient times. As a component of traditional health products, ginger is known to be effective as an appetite enhancer, and has anti-cold and anti-inflammatory activities. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulative effects of Zingiber officinale Roscoe in mice, using ex vivo experiments. In order to elucidate ginger's immunomodulative effects of Ginger, water extracts were orally administered to mice, and isolated macrophages were used as the experimental model. To identify the ex vivo effects, six to seven week old Balb/c mice were fed a chow diet ad libitum and the ginger water extracts were administered orally every other day for two or four weeks at two different concentrations(50 and 500 mg/kg b.w.). The results show that IL-IO and $IFN-{\gamma}$ were detected in the 500 mg/kg b.w. supplemented group with LPS stimulation in all cases. Also, the $IFN-{\gamma}$ /IL-10 ratio ranged from 3~5 with mitogen stimulation such as Con A and LPS. In conclusion, this study suggests that ginger extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the cytokine(IL-10 and $IFN-{\gamma}$) production capacity of activated macrophages in mice.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.12-19
• /
• 2019

A former study has shown that the spin-lattice relaxation time ($T_1$) in cancerous prostate tissue had enhanced contrast at an ultra-low magnetic field, $132{\mu}T$. To study the field dependence and the origin of the contrast we measured $T_1$ in pairs of ex-vivo prostate tissues at the Earth's magnetic field. A portable and coil-based nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system was adopted for $T_1$ measurements at $40{\mu}T$. The $T_1$ contrast, ${\delta}=1-T_1$ (more cancer)/$T_1$(less cancer), was calculated from each pair. Additionally, we performed pathological examinations such as Gleason's score, cell proliferation index, and micro-vessel density (MVD), to quantify correlations between the pathological parameters and $T_1$ of the cancerous prostate tissues.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.40-46
• /
• 2012

In vivo nicotine is associated with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and lung cancer. Diagnostic assays of these diseases depend on very low analytical detection limits. In this study, a sensitive analytical method was examined using a voltammetric graphite pencil electrode (GPE) and a modified carbon nanotube paste electrode (CNE). The optimum analytical conditions for both electrodes were compared using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SW) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) obtaining 400 sec accumulation time and oxidation peak. Under optimum parameters, the stripping working range of GPE was $5.0-40.0{\mu}g/L$, CNE: 0.1-0.8 and $5-50{\mu}g/L$. Quantification limits were $5.0{\mu}g/L$ for GPE and $0.1{\mu}g/L$ for CNE, while detection limits were $0.6{\mu}g/L$ for GPE and $0.07{\mu}g/L$ for CNE. A standard deviation of $10.0{\mu}g/L$ was observed for 0.064 GPE and 0.095 CNE (n = 12) using 400 sec accumulation time. The results obtained can be applied to non.treated urine and ex vivo biological diagnostics.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.202-209
• /
• 2019

Purpose: To investigate the temperature-based differences of cortical bone ultrashort echo time MRI (UTE-MRI) biomarkers between body and room temperatures. Investigations of ex vivo UTE-MRI techniques were performed mostly at room temperature however, it is noted that the MRI properties of cortical bone may differ in vivo due to the higher temperature which exists as a condition in the live body. Materials and Methods: Cortical bone specimens from fourteen donors ($63{\pm}21$ years old, 6 females and 8 males) were scanned on a 3T clinical scanner at body and room temperatures to perform T1, $T2^*$, inversion recovery UTE (IR-UTE) $T2^*$ measurements, and two-pool magnetization transfer (MT) modeling. Results: Single-component $T2^*$, $IR-T2^*$, short and long component $T2^*s$ from bi-component analysis, and T1 showed significantly higher values while the noted macromolecular fraction (MMF) from MT modeling showed significantly lower values at body temperature, as compared with room temperature. However, it is noted that the short component fraction (Frac1) showed higher values at body temperature. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for careful consideration of the temperature effects on MRI measurements, before extending a conclusion from ex vivo studies on cortical bone specimens to clinical in vivo studies. It is noted that the increased relaxation times at higher temperature was most likely due to an increased molecular motion. The T1 increase for the studied human bone specimens was noted as being significantly higher than the previously reported values for bovine cortical bone. The prevailing discipline notes that the increased relaxation times of the bound water likely resulted in a lower signal loss during data acquisition, which led to the incidence of a higher Frac1 at body temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.1285-1297
• /
• 2020

In this study, we report the results of a study on the clinical evaluation of wrinkle improvement by developing a method for liposome of high-purity Centella asiatica extract used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, and a cream using the same. In order to make Centellasome-10EX stabilizing centella asiatica extract in liposome lamella vesicle, it could be completed using 5% hydrogenated lecithin and 2% sucrose distearate. The appearance of Centellasome-10EX was a creamy form of low viscosity, the color was pale yellow, and the odor had the inherent odor of the raw material. The pH was about 6.12, the specific gravity was 1.09, and the acid value was about 0.35. The content of the main constituents of centella asiatica extract contained in the liposome vesicle contains 10,800 ppm of asiatic acid, 10,900 ppm of asiaticoside, 6,000 ppm of madecasic acid, and 1,600 ppm of madecassoside, and long-term storage. There was no discoloration even at the time, and it was found that the main component remained stable thermodynamically. To mechanistically analyze the structure of the liposome vesicle of Centellasome-10EX, as a result of observation with a transmission electron microscope (Cryo-TEM), the multilayer vesicles are formed and filled with moisture, and there are 10 to 60 multilayers around it. It was confirmed that the liposome lamella vesicle was formed. As a clinical trial (in-vivo) test, the moisturizing effect of centellasome cream after application for 5 weeks was 28.3%, which was significantly increased compared to placebo. The skin elasticity effect was 13.6%, which significantly increased the moisturizing power than the placebo. The effect of improving fine wrinkles around the eyes was improved by 23.52% compared to placebo cream. Through the results of this study, it was possible to study the formulation and manufacturing method for encapsulation and stabilization of the developed Centellasome-10EX in the liposome vesicle. It is expected that the results obtained through clinical research on the wrinkle improvement effect of the cream using this can be widely used to study skin science in the cosmetic industry and to develop high-quality cosmetics with high efficacy.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.60 no.1
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2016

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by dysregulatory production of proinflammatory cytokines and helper T (Th) cytokine-dependent autoantibody production. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of baicalin on the dysregulatory production of proinflammatory cytokines and Th cytokines in pristane-induced lupus mice. Mice were received i.p. a single injection of 0.5 ml of pristane, and then, later about 3 months, were used as a pristane-induced lupus model. The pristane-induced lupus mice were administrated orally with baicalin 50 mg/kg once in a day for 10 days. Immune cells obtained from the pristane-primed lupus control group (lupus control) and baicalin-treated pristaneprimed lupus mouse group (BAC lupus) were cultured for 24 h or 36 h with/without mitogens. These results demonstrated that LPS-induced production of macrophage and splenic TNF-${\alpha}$ and Con A-induced production of thymic IFN-${\gamma}$ were attenuated in BAC lupus compared to lupus control, while LPS-stimulated production of macrophage IL-10, Con A-stimulated production of splenic IL-10 and, $PGE_2$-reduced production of splenic IFN-${\gamma}$ enhanced. Therefore, these findings suggest that baicalin may protect from autoimmunity and disease activity in lupus via modulatory effect of proinflammatory cytokine overproduction and Th cytokine imbalance.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.421-425
• /
• 2003

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two phospholipid permeation enhancers, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and didecanoylphosphatidylcholine (DDPC), along with a fusidic acid derivative, sodium taurodihydrofusidate (STDHF) and ethanol (EtOH) on the buccal transport of propranolol hydrochloride (PPL) using an ex vivo buccal diffusion model. The permeation rate of [$^3 H$]PPL as measured by steady-state fluxes increased with increasing EtOH concentration. A significant flux enhancement (P＜0.05) was achieved by EtOH at 20 and 30 %v/v concentrations. At a 0.5 %w/v permeation enhancer concentration, the buccal permeation of [$^3 H$]PPL was significantly enhanced by all the enhancers studied (i.e., LPC, DDPC and STDHF) compared to the control (phosphate-buffered saline pH 7.4, PBS). LPC and DDPC displayed a greater degree of permeation enhancement compared with STDHF and EtOH-PBS mixtures with an enhancement ratio of 3.2 and 2.9 for LPC and DDPC, respectively compared with 2.0 and 1.5 for STDHF and EtOH:PBS 30:70 %v/v mixture, respectively. There was no significant difference between LPC and DDPC for the flux values and apparent permeability coefficients of [$^3$H]PPL. These results suggest that phospholipids are suitable as permeation enhancers for the buccal delivery of drugs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.555-564
• /
• 2021

Background: Ginsenosides of Panax ginseng are used to enhance skin health and beauty. The present study aimed to investigate the potential use of ginsenoside Rf (Rf) from Panax ginseng as a new anti-pigmentation agent. Methods: The anti-melanogenic effects of Rf were explored. The transcriptional activity of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB) and the expression levels of tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and tyrosinase-related proteins (Tyrps) were evaluated in melanocytes and UV-irradiated ex vivo human skin. Results: Rf significantly inhibited Forskolin (FSK) or UV-stimulated melanogenesis. Consistently, cellular tyrosinase activity and levels of MITF, tyrosinase, and Tyrps were downregulated. Furthermore, Rf suppressed MITF promoter activity, which was stimulated by FSK or CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 3 (CRTC3) overexpression. Increased CREB phosphorylation and protein kinase A (PKA) activity induced by FSK were also mitigated in the presence of Rf. Conclusion: Rf can be used as a reliable anti-pigmentation agent, which has a scientifically confirmed and reproducible action mechanism, via inhibition of CREB/MITF pathway.