• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.32-50
• /
• 2005

Purpose : This study was carried out to investigated the effects of Saenghyeolbosu-Tang on the morphometric changes of femur, and on the hormones and cytokines associated with bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. Methods : Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham operated group(normal), ovariectomized group(control), and treated with extract of Saenghyeolbosu-Tang group(treated). Each group was evaluated the changes of body weight at 0, 3, 6, 8, weeks after ovariectomy. Morphometric analysis(femur weight, femur/body weight, femur ash weight, femur ash/body weight, cross sectional area of compact bone and cancellous bone of femur) and histopathological examination were performed at 8 weeks after ovariectomy. Estrogen and cytokines($TNF-{\alpha},\;IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6) assay were performed at 8 weeks after ovariectomy. Results : 1. The femur weight(g) of treated group(1.59${\pm}$0.08) was significantly increased(p<0.05)compared with the control group(1.50${\pm}$0.07) at 8 weeks. 2. The femur/body weight(g) of treated group(5.27${\pm}$0.36) was significantly increased(p<0.05) compared with the control group(4.78${\pm}$0.37) at 8 weeks. 3. In the cross sectional area of cancellous bone of femur(${mm^2}$) the treated group(1.60${\pm}$0.20)was significantly increased(p<0.01) compared with the control group(1.19${\pm}$0.19) at 8 weeks. 4. The serum estrogen level(pg/ml) of treated(83.67${\pm}$27.44) and control group(800.49${\pm}$22.27)showed no significantly different changes at 8 weeks. 5. The serum $TNF-{\alpha}$ level(pg/ml) of treated(33.71${\pm}$6.43) and control group(41.35${\pm}$8.47) showed no significantly different changes at 8 weeks. 6. The serum $IL-1{\beta}$ level(pg/ml) of treated group(53.78${\pm}$10.83) was significantly decreased(p<0.001) compared with the control group(79.80${\pm}$11.40) at 8 weeks. 7. The serum IL-6 level(pg/ml) of treated group(55.52${\pm}$9.02) was significantly decreased(p<0.01) compared with the control group(69.69${\pm}$7.95) at 8 weeks. Conclusion : This study shows that Saenghyeolbosu-Tang inhibits bone resolution in ovariectomized rats. These results may be related to the inhibitory effect of Saenghyeolbosu-Tang on the secretion of $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in the Pathogenesis of　osteoporosis.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.115-120
• /
• 2016

Background: This study examined the hypoglycemic and kidney protective effect of black ginseng in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Methods and Results: Diabetes was induced by treating mice with streptozotocin (STZ) for four weeks. In vivo studies were performed in order to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of the black ginseng prosapogenin (GBG05-FF) extract. The body weight and blood glucose level were measured. Moreover, after the mice were sacrificed, the kidneys were isolated and histological changes were observed with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were also measured. The results showed that administration of black ginseng increased body weight. Compared to blood glucose levels in STZ mice, blood glucose levels were reduced by 48% in STZ mice supplemented with 300 mg/kg of black ginseng, and by 69% in STZ mice supplemented with 900 mg/kg. Furthermore, histopathological examination of STZ mouse kidneys revealed, changes in the kidneys, epithelial cell damages, inflammatory cell infiltration and glomerulus hypertrophy. However, a significant reduction of glomerular water droplets (indicative of glomerulus hypertrophy) was observed in the kidneys of STZ mice supplemented with black ginseng extract. Conclusions: These results suggest that black prosapogenin (GBG05-FF) ginseng extract has a significant hypoglycemic effect and can be used as an anti-diabetic substance and renal protective agents as part of dietary supplements or novel drugs.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.48-55
• /
• 2013

Objective: The use of nanoparticle products is expected to present a potential harmful effect on consumers. Also, the lack of information regarding inhaled nanoparticles may pose a serious problem. In this study, we addressed this issue by studying pulmonary toxicity after nasal instillation of Al-NPs in SD rats. Methods: The animals were exposed to Al-NPs at 1 mg/kg body weight (low dose), 20 mg/kg body weight (medium dose) and 40 mg/kg body weight (high dose). To determine pulmonary toxicity, bronchoalveolar lavage (ts.AnBAL) fluid analysis and histopathological examination were conducted in rats. In addition, cell viability was investigated at 24 hours after the treatment with Al-NPs. Results: BAL fluid analysis showed that total cells (TC) count and total protein (TP) concentrations increased significantly in all treatment groups, approximately two to three times. Also, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-6 dose-dependently increased following nasal instillation of Al-NPs. However, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) levels showed no significant changes in a dose dependant manner in BAL fluid. In the cytotoxicity analysis, the treatment of Al-NPs significantly and dose-dependently induced cell viability loss (20 to 30%) and damage of cell membrane (5 to 10%) in rat normal lung epithelial cells (L2). Conclusions: Our results suggest that inhaled Al-NPs in the lungs may be removed quickly by alveolar macrophages with minimal inflammatory reaction, but Al-NPs have the potential to affect lung permeability. Therefore, extensive toxicity evaluations of Al-NPs are required prior to their practical application as consumer products.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2007

Monocrotaline (MCT) is a pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) plant toxin that produces hapatotoxicity in humans and animals. To felt the hypothesis, we investigated the possible protective effects of Haedokjeongki-tang as an antioxidant against MCT-induced liver injury in rats. Cells with apoptotic morphology have been observed in the livers of animals exposed to Ph and Haedokjeongki-tang. Whether apoptosis occurs in the livers of MCT-treated animals and whether it is required for full manifestation of pathological changes is not known, To determine this, rats were treated with 100 mg MCT/kg, and apoptosis was detected by transmission electron microscopy and TUNEL assay. MCT produced apoptosis in the liver by 6 h after treatment and increased by 24 h. Administration of Haedokjeongki-tang did affect liver structure and inhibit apopotosis in MCT-induced liver injury. Upon light and electron microscopic examination, we observed that Haedokjeongki-tang improved the morphological and histopathological changes of the liver caused by MCT-induced injury. MCT caused a time-dependent release of GOT and GPT, a marker of liver injury. Furthermore, we observed with respect to antioxidants status, catalase and superoxide dismutase activity tended to be higher in the MCT-treated rats than in the Haedokjeongki-tang administered rats. Our finding showed that Haedokjeongki-tang administration partially reduced liver injury after MCT exposure.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.1337-1345
• /
• 2006

Hypercholesterolemia is a pivotal pathogenic factor for the development and maintenance of atherosclerosis. The present study was designed to evaluate whether the methanol extract of Sorbus commixta cortex (MSC) restores vascular dysfunction in association with the aortic expressions of proinflarnmatory and adhesion molecules in high cholesterol (HC) diet-rats. Chronic treatment with low (100 mg/kg/day) or high doses (200 mg/kg/day) of MSC lowered the increase in plasma levels of triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol induced by a cholesterol-enriched diet without affecting on the plasma level of high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. Vascular tone attenuated in the HC-diet rats was restored by administration with MSC. Treatment with MSC also suppressed the HC-induced increase in the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and nuclear factor-$_K$B (NF-$_K$B) p65 expressions as well as expressions levels of adhesion molecules including intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and E-selectin in aorta. The present study also showed that MSC inhibited the HC-mediated induction of ET-1 and ACE expression. In histopathological examination, aortic segments in the HC-diet rat revealed thickening intima and media, which were blocked by administration with MSC. Taken together, MSC could suppress the development of atherosclerosis in the HC-diet rat model through the inhibition of the aortic expression levels of pro-inflammatory and adhesion molecules.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.97-100
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Epidermolysis bullosa is a rare genetic disease, characterized by the presence of extremely fragile skin and formation of recurrent blister resulting from even a minor mechanical injury. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is recognized as a complication of the chronic scarring associated with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB). When a soft tissue defect happens in a patient with epidermolysis bullosa, it is difficult to cover it with a skin graft or a flap. We describe the successful use of a pedicled deep inferior epigastric perforator flap for the reconstruction of SCC associated with DEB in the groin. Methods: A 29-year-old man diagnosed with DEB at birth sustained an ulcer increasing in the right groin for the last 7 months. Under general anesthesia, the mass lesion and lymph nodes were removed and the resulting defect was covered with a pedicled deep inferior epigastric perforator flap. Results: The flap survived completely and his postoperative course was uneventful. Histopathological examination revealed a SCC in the right groin and malignant tumor cells in the removed lymph nodes as well. Additional positron emission tomogram showed a malignant lesion in the ileocecal area with regional lymph node metastasis. The patient was referred to an oncologist for chemotheraphy, but the patient refused to take it. During a 4-month follow-up period, there was no recurrence in the right groin. Conclusion: We suggest that perforator flaps can be considered as a reliable alternative for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects in a patient with DEB.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.406-413
• /
• 2019

This study was undertaken to investigate the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes and cervical lesions in Busan. Furthermore, the cytological and histological findings of cervical lesions were compared to determine the usefulness of the currently released vaccines. HPV subtypes of 2,130 patients who visited Haeundae Paik Hospital between January 2013 and March 2016 were analyzed by the HPV 9G DNA chip. Liquid-based cytological examination was performed, and subtypes were classified according to the 2001 guidelines of The Bethesda System. Biopsy or hysterectomy specimens were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin staining for histological examinations. Of the total 2,130 cases, 1,254 (58.9%) were positive for HPV, and 876 (41.1%) were negative. Of these, 152 (7.1%), 97 (4.6%) and 80 (3.8%) were identified as HPV 16, 68 and 56, respectively. Of the 329 cases encompassing the above three HPV subtypes, histopathological analysis diagnosed 155 (47.1%) cases with CIN2 or higher grade. Notably, the occurrences of HPV subtypes 16, 68, 56, 58 and 51 were most frequently diagnosed in Busan. Further analysis revealed that administration of Gardasil^Ⓡ 9, the currently available vaccine in the market, exerts no protection against subtypes 68, 59 and 51. This study aims to provide an important reference for future HPV vaccination programs in Busan.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.50 no.6
• /
• pp.629-635
• /
• 2018

In this study, the safety aspect of Maesil-cheongs with reduced amygdalin levels was investigated in terms of toxicokinetics and repeated oral toxicity. Plasma or UVC treatment was utilized to obtain Maesil-cheongs with reduced amygdalin levels. The toxicokinetic study demonstrated that the oral absorption of amygdalin decreased remarkably after a single-dose oral administration of both plasma- and UVC-treated Maesil-cheongs. The fourteen-day repeated oral toxicity study revealed that plasma- or UVC-treated Maesil-cheongs did not cause changes in body weight, food intake, water consumption, and absolute and relative organ weights. No significant effects on hematological and serum biochemical parameters were found. Histopathological examination showed no abnormality or toxicological change. These findings suggest that plasma- and UVC-treated Maesil-cheongs have no toxicity potential, and these processes will be useful to obtain products with safe, reduced amygdalin levels.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.370-378
• /
• 2019

The hepatic ischemic model has recently been widely used for the epidemiological study of ischemic reperfusion injury. This study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of vanillin, which is known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, against hepatic and renal injury using an ischemia-reperfusion rat model, and we also investigated the mechanism related to vanillins' protective effect. The test material was administered at a concentration of 100 mg/kg for 3 days, followed by ligation of the liver for 60 minutes to induce ischemia reperfusion. As control groups, there was a negative control, sham control and ischemia-reperfusion-only ischemia reperfusion control, and the controls groups were compared with the drug administration group. In the vanillin group, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were significantly inhibited compared with the AST and ALT activities of the ischemia-reperfusion group, and histopathological examination showed significant reduction of both inflammation and necrosis. The malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were significantly different from the ischemia-reperfusion group. In conclusion, vanillin showed a hepatocyte protective action by alleviating the cellular inflammation and cell necrosis caused by hepatic ischemia-reperfusion, and vanillin mitigated inflammatory changes in the kidney glomeruli and distal tubules. The protective effect is considered to be caused by vanillin's antioxidant function. Further studies such as on cell death and possibly vanillin's same effect on damaged tissue will be necessary for clinical applications such as organ transplantation.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.81-91
• /
• 2021

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a complex mixture of natural substances of ginseng and baeknyeoncho on the arthritic rats. Methods : In vitro experiments were conducted to ensure the stability of the complex. After setting toxicity and concentration by MTT assay, the antioxidant effect was measured through DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity. To confirm the anti-inflammatory effects of the complex, levels of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α) were measured in LPS-treated macrophage cell lines (RAW264.7). We injected monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) 50 μl (60 mg/ml) into knee joints of rats to induce osteoarthritis. The rats were divided into three groups (normal (n=5), control (n=5), and OR (n=5) group). The control group consumed 2 mg/kg of physiological saline once a day for 4 weeks, and the OR group was mixed at a concentration of 416.5 mg/kg of Baengnyeoncho (O) and 208.25 mg/kg of red ginseng (R) and ingested 1 mL each 5 days a week. Results : This complex increased the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rate. The complex decreased NO production and pro-inflammatory cytokine production of macrophages. In the OR group, the secretion of cytokine in serum was decreased. In histopathological examination, the joint tissue of the composite showed less damage to the synovial membrane, cartilage, and fibrous tissue than the control group. Conclusions : As a result of this study, natural complexes have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cartilage protection effects. Therefore, we expect the complex to be effective in treating osteoarthritis.