• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.599-604
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• 2011

In this study, we investigated the efficacy of ${\beta}$-cyclodextrin (${\beta}CD$) hydrorogel containing silk fibroin (SF) on healing burnt wound. Tosyl ${\beta}CD$ was conjugated to polyethyleneimine (PEI) using epichlorohydrin (EPI) as a cross-linker. The ${\beta}CD/PEI/SF$ hydrogel was applied on the back of mouse and then the efficacy of hydrogel was compared with both positive control group and negative control group. There was no wound healing efficacy showed neither in the drug loaded ${\beta}CD/PEI/SF$ hydrogel group nor in the drug unloaded ${\beta}CD/PEI/SF$ hydrogel group. On the other hand, in the positive control group, a significant reduction of the wound size after the usage of OTC hydrorogel was obtained. The burn-healing histological result showed a similar phenomenon. After hematoxylin-eosin staining the skin induced by burning, and the epithelial growth observed in the dermis, the efficacy of ${\beta}CD/PEI/SF$ hydrogel in healing burnt wound could not be clearly identified.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2022

Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes inflammation in the mucosal or submucosal layer of the colon. Previous studies have reported that obesity increases the prevalence of ulcerative colitis and aggravates the progression. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate whether curcumin inhibits the progression of ulcerative colitis caused by obesity. Mice were bred on a high-fat diet to induce obesity, and curcumin was administered with the high-fat diet to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect. To induce ulcerative colitis, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was administered orally, and clinical symptoms of colitis were subsequently observed. For histological evaluation of curcumin, the colon, liver and abdominal fat tissue samples were prepared and analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Our results confirm that consumption of curcumin resulted in decreasing the score of the disease activity index, and inhibited shortening of the colon length. In addition, inflammatory cell infiltration and mucosal damage were inhibited in the colon tissue of ulcerative colitis exacerbated by obesity. We further confirmed that exposure to curcumin significantly reduced the steatosis area of the liver and adipocytes of abdominal fat. In conclusion, we believe that curcumin can be applied as a therapeutic agent to treat ulcerative colitis, by inhibiting the progression of colitis caused by obesity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Objectives This study was designed to evaluate the healing effect of Cordyceps Militaris (CM) on collagen II-induced arthritis rats. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (normal, control, positive control, CM with low/medium/high dosage each). Type II collagen mixed with complete Freund's adjuvant (with 1:1 v/v) was injected subcutaneously, and the mixture was injected in a same manner one week after the first injection to boost arthritis. Arthritis index, paw thickness and von Frey test were conducted to observe physical changes. hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was performed to observe knee cartilage. The levels of messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of interleukin (IL)-1𝛽, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-𝛼) in spleen were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs on multiple joints and can lead to temporary shape change of bones or organ failure in severe cases. Here, we aimed to determine the effect of CM extract on rheumatoid arthritis by measuring paw thickness, arthritis index, conducting von Frey test and H&E staining, and evaluating the level of IL-1𝛽, IL-6, TNF-𝛼. As a result, paw thickness, arthritis index significantly decreased in low concentration group, hind leg became less sensitive in all expermental groups. Also, histological analysis showed that the damage of knee cartilage was prevented in all experimental groups. The level of mRNA of IL-1𝛽, IL-6, and TNF-𝛼 in spleen was analyzed to decide the effectiveness of CM extract. IL-1𝛽 did not show significant change, but IL-6 and TNF-𝛼 showed significant decrease in at least one of the experimental groups. Conclusions CM showed protective effect on knee tissue destruction and improved the physical conditions of the leg involving arthritis. Also, it showed that CM has anti-inflammatory effect on specific cytokines inducing rheumatoid arthritis. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the therapeutic potential of CM for the treatment rheumatoid arthritis, and set the foundation for the further studies.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.211-226
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• 1985

The ultrastructure of the digestive organ of Korean Planaria (Dugesia japonica) is studied by light microscope and transmission electron microscope. 1. Pharynx The epithelium surrounding pharyngeal lumen has a number of microvilli on the free surface. The epithelial cells contain PAS-positive granules which are 0.4 to 0.6 $\\mum$ in size. They also contain hundreds of vesicles and vacuoles. The pharyngeal epithelium of the external surface surrounded by pharyngeal cavity possesses a number of cilia and microvilli on the free surface. A number of muscle bundles are found in the pharyngeal tissue. The parietal epithelium surrounding pharyngeal cavity have microvilli and electron-dense secretory granules. 2. Caeca The cells which constitute the cecal epithelium are divided into four kinds of cells. 1) Phagocytic cell : These cells are characterized by presence of a number of lysosomes. These cells have highly developed mitochondria, polyribosomes and granular endoplasmic reticulum of which cisternae are distended. 2) Granular club cell : These cells contain round granules 5 $\\mum$ in diameter which show strong PAS-positivity and weak eosinophilia. The cells have highly developed granular endoplasmic reticulum. 3) Storage cell : These cells include thousands of glycogen granules in the cytoplasm. These cells also have second kind of round granules which are 1.4 to 3 $\\mum$ in size and exhibit PAS-positive reaction. 4) Immature storage cell : These cells have a large nucleus and contain a small number of granules which have PAS-positive granules and a few lipid droplets. Several chromatoid bodies are found in the cytoplasm around the nucleus.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.430-439
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• 2008

Chungpaesagan-tang (CPSGT) is most frequently used to treat ischemic brain injury in tradition Korean medicine. Clinically, cerebral ischemia is likely to be accompanied by preexisting or complicating disease. However, animal models used to examine the effects of herbal medicines on cerebral ischemia have not given this issue sufficient consideration. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of CPSGT on focal cerebral ischemia in normal and SHR rats subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Animals were divided into four groups: Normal (Sprague-Dawley) rats subjected to MACO (the NC+MCAO group), normal rats subjected to MCAO and then administered CPSGT (NC + MCAO + CP), SHR rats subjected to MCAO (SHR + MCAO), and SHR rats subjected to MCAO and then administered CPSGT (SHR + MCAO + CP). MCAO was performed using the intraluminal method. CPSGT was administrated orally twice (1 and 4 h) after MCAO. All animals were sacrificed at 24 h postoperatively. Brain tissues were stained with hematoxylin & eosin, to examine the effect of CPSGT on ischemic brain tissues. In addition, changes in TNF-$\alpha$ expression in ischemic areas were examined by immunostaining. CPSGT was found to significantly reduce infarction areas in normal and SHR rats and infarction volumes in SHR rats. Similarly, CPGST markedly increased neuron numbers and sizes in all treated groups, except cell sizes in SHRs. Furthermore, CPSGT reduced TNF-$\alpha$ expression in MCAO administered SHR rats. The findings of the present study suggest that CPSGT effectively ameliorates neuron damage caused by MACO-induced cerebral ischemia, and that it has a significant neuroprotective effect after cerebral ischemia in SHR.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.51-58
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the antithrombotic effects of the four herbal ingredients (Mume Fructus, MF; Santali Albi Lignum, SAL; Amomi Tsao-Ko Fructus, ATF; and Amomi Fructus, AF) of modified Jeho-tang (MJHT) in a ferric chloride ($FeCl_3$)-induced carotid arterial thrombosis model. Methods: Thirty minutes prior to a 35% $FeCl_3$ application, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were injected with saline, MF, SAL, ATF or AF (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection), respectively. The effect of the MJHT ingredients was examined for time to occlusion (TTO) and thrombus weight (TW) in a $FeCl_3$-induced thrombosis model. Histological analysis was performed to examine the effect of the MJHT ingredients on collagen fiber damage using hematoxylin & eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. Results: Compared with vehicle treatment, MF, SAL and ATF treatment delayed TTO (vehicle, $8.11{\pm}0.60$ min; MF, $16.67{\pm}1.03$ min; SAL, $17.50{\pm}1.52$ min and ATF, $13.33{\pm}1.21$ min; P < 0.001) and inhibited thrombus formation (vehicle, $0.79{\pm}0.03$ mg/mm; MF, $0.61{\pm}0.07$ mg/mm; SAL, $0.57{\pm}0.03$ mg/mm and ATF, $0.72{\pm}0.02$ mg/mm; P < 0.001). In addition, each herbal ingredient of MJHT except for AF prevented the collagen fiber damage induced by a 35% $FeCl_3$ application. These results indicate that the MJHT ingredients MF ${\geq}$ SAL ${\geq}$ ATF ${\geq}$ AF possess antithrombotic activity in a $FeCl_3$-induced carotid arterial thrombosis. Conclusions: Altogether, these results are the first evidence that the MJHT ingredients MF, SAL and ATF have the ability to prevent vascular damage and thrombus formation in $FeCl_3$-induced carotid arterial thrombosis.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2011

Histological study on egg envelope and oogenesis of Kichulchoia multifasciata (Pisces, Cobitidae) was carried out by light microscopes and scanning electron microscopes. Various developmental cells appeared in ovary of the specimen catched during November 2010. The cytoplasm of oogonia was acidic and many nucleoli were located at the inner side of nucleus membrane. The size of the oogonia was $103.9{\pm}24.7$ ${\mu}m$ with nucleus size $42.9{\pm}6.9$ (31.1~50.3) ${\mu}m$. Primary oocyte having $277.5{\pm}60.5$ (216.7~354.9) ${\mu}m$ in diameter began to accumulate yolk vesicles. As the developmental stages proceed, secondary oocyte grows larger to $617.6{\pm}85.1$ (503.4~723.6) ${\mu}m$, and eosinophilic yolk granules yolk granules appeared between the yolk vesicles occupying most cytoplasm, and there are some yolk mass formed already. There are some yolk mass formed already. Envelope of fertilized egg investigated by a scanning electron microscope had plenty of microvilli (2~3 ${\mu}m$ in length) over the entire egg surface and a micropyle. Especially, the microvilli surrounding the micropyle were longer than those of egg surface with $5.26{\pm}1.22$ ${\mu}m$.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.511-521
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• 1996

Periodontal pocket is one of the most frequently developed clinical feature on the teeth with periodontal disease. In order to determine the gingival curettage effect of intrapocket irradiation of a pulsed Nd : YAG laser on periodontally involved teeth, bilateral 60 teeth with $4{\sim}6mm$ in probing pocket depth 1 week after supragingival scaling were selected. On half of them the intrapocket irradiation($300{\mu}m$ fiber optic, 1.5W power, for 2min.) of a pulsed-Nd : YAG laser(EL.EN.EN06O, Italy) was applied as the lased group. On the contralateral 30 teeth the subgingival curettage was accomplished by Gracey curettes as the curattage group. The periodontal pocket tissues were surgically excised by the modified Widman flap technique immediately after the intrapocket irradiation or subgingival curettage, subsequently fixed with 10% neutral formalin, sectioned in $4{\sim}6{\mu}m$ thickness, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Surface characteristics and incomplete removal of the pocket epithelium were evaluated under light microscope. And the difference between the lased group and the curettage group was statistically analyzed by Chi-square test in Microstat program. The results were as follows ; 1. The plane surface was observed more frequently in the curettage group(73.3%) than in the lased group(23.3%), and the rough surface was observed more frequently in the lased grOoup(63.3%) than in the curettage group(6.7%)(p<0.05). 2. The rate of incomplete removal of the pocket epithelium was relatively high in both the lased group(76.6%) and the curettage group(86.6%), and there was no significant difference between the lased group and the curettage group(p>0.l). The results suggest that the further studies including various power control of laser should be succeeded in order to obtain more favorable results by the intrapocket irradiation of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser than the subgingival curettage with Gracey curettes.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.120-129
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pulpal response to direct pulp capping with dentin sialoprotein (DSP) -derived synthetic peptide in teeth of dogs, and to compare its efficacy to capping substances $Ca(OH)_2$ and white mineral trioxide aggregate (WMTA). A total of 72 teeth of 6 healthy male beagle dogs were used. The mechanically exposed pulps were capped with one of the following: (1) DSP-derived synthetic peptide (PEP group): (2) $Ca(OH)_2$ (CH group): (3) a mixture paste of peptide and $Ca(OH)_2$ (PEP+CH group): or (4) white MTA (WMTA group). The access cavity was restored with a reinforced glass ionomer cement. Two dogs were sacrificed at each pre-determined intervals (2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months). After the specimens were prepared for standard histological processing, sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Under a light microscope, inflammatory response and hard tissue formation were evaluated in a blind manner by 2 observers. In the PEP group, only 3 of 17 specimens showed hard tissue formation, indication that the DSP-derived synthetic peptide did not induce proper healing of the pulp. Compared with the CH group, the PEP group demonstrated an increased inflammatory response and poor hard tissue formation. The CH and WMTA groups showed similar results for direct pulp capping in mechanically exposed teeth of dogs.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 2001

Objective: Recently, microdissection of tissue sections has been used increasingly for the isolation of morphologically identified homogeneous cell populations, thus overcoming the obstacle of tissue complexity for the analysis cell-specific expression of macromolecules. The aim of the present study was to establish the minimal conditions required for the RNA extraction and amplification from the cells captured by the laser captured microdissection. Methods : Mouse ovaries were fixed and cut into serial sections (7 im thickness). Oocytes were captured by laser captured microdissection (LCM) method by using PixCell $II^{TM}$ system. The frozen sections were fixed in 70% ethanol and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, while the paraffin sections were stained with Multiple stain. Sections were dehydrated in graded alcohols followed by xylene and air-dried for 20 min prior to LCM. All reactions were performed in ribonuclease free solutions to prevent RNA degradation. After LCM, total RNA extraction from the captured oocytes was performed using the guanidinium isothiocyanate (GITC) solution, and subsequently evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Results: With the frozen sections, detection of the GAPDH mRNA expression in the number of captured 25 oocytes were not repeatable, but the expression was always detectable from 50 oocytes. With 25 oocytes, at least 27 PCR cycles were required, whereas with 50 oocytes, 21 cycles were enough to detect GA PDH expression. Amount of the primary cDNA required for RT-PCR was reduced down to at least 0.25 $\grave{i}$ l with 50 oocytes, thus the resting 19.75 il cDNA can be used for the testing other interested gene expression. Tissue-to-slide, tissue-to-tissue forces were very high in the paraffin sections, thus the greater number of cell procurement was required than the frozen sections. Conclusion: We have described a method for analyzing gene expression at the RNA level with the homogeneously microdissected cells from the small amount of tissues with complexity. We found that LCM coupled with RT-PCR could detect housekeeping gene expression in 50 oocytes captured. This technique can be easily applied for the study of gene expression with the small amount of tissues.