• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.311-317
• /
• 2003

Felodipine is a calcium antagonist that lowers blood pressure by reducing peripheral resistance by meas of a direct, selective action on smooth muscle in arterial resistance vessels. Futhermore, it have been approved for the effective in angina pectoris and cardiac failure. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two felodipine extended release (ER) tablets, Splendil (YuHan Corporation) and Stapin (Hana Pharmaceutial Co., Ltd.), according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The felodipine release from the two felodipine formulations in vitro was tested using KP VIII Apparatus II method at pH 6.5 buffer solution. Twenty six healthy male subjects, $22.73{\pm}1.78$ years in age and $66.66{\pm}7.28\;kg$ in body weight, were divided into two groups and a radomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After two tablets containing 5 mg as felodipine were orally administered, blood sample was taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of felodipine in serum were determined using column-switching HPLC method with UV detector. The dissolution profiles of two formulations were similar at pH 6.5 buffer solution. Besides, the pharmacokinetic parameters such as $AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ were calculated and ANOVA test was utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t\;and\;C_{max}$ and untransformed $T_{max}$. The results showed that the differences between two formulations based on the Splendil were 2.53%, 1.32% and 18.32% for $AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$, respectively. There were no sequence effects between two formulations in these parameters. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance rage of log(0.86) to log(1.25) $(e.g.,\;log(0.86){\sim}log(1.20)\;and\;log(0.89){\sim}log(1.23)\;for\;AUC_t,\;C_{max},\;respectively)$. Thus, the criteria of the KFDA guidelines for the bioequivalence was satisfied, indicating Stapin ER tablet and Splendil ER tablet are bioequivalent.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.29-38
• /
• 2001

When I evaluated the component variation of Naesowhajung-tang by the three types of extraction method, and each type's effects on the gastrointestinal tract, I got the following results. 1. The output ratio of extracts made out of Naesowhajung-tang were not significantly different among 13.8% of water extract(Sample-I), 13.5% of 50% ethanol extract(Sample-II), and 15.6% of water extract by spray dryer(Sample-III). 2. magnolol, honokiol, hesperidin, naringin, poncirin and glycyrrhizin Sample II had the largest amount of the following contents: magnolol, honokiol, hesperidin, naringin, poncirin and glycyrrhizin. 3. All the extracts of Naesowhajung-tang showed the inhibitory effect on the smooth muscle contraction of the isolated ileum in mice and fundus-strip in rats induced by acetylcholine chloride and barium chloride. 4. High concentration Sample-II was recognized to be effective in preventing gastric ulcers in Shay's rats. but not in the other rat group. 5. All the extracts of Naesowhajung-tang were recognized to be effective in preventing gastric ulcers induced by Ethanol-HCl in rats. 6. The increase of transport ability in the small intestine was recognized only when the concentration of all the samples was doubled, but not in the other concentrations. 7. The increase of transport ability in the large intestine was recognized only when the concentration of Sample-II was doubled, but not in other concentration. Using the results mentioned above, I suggest that Sample-II has more significant effects on the gastrointestinal tract than the others.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.57 no.2
• /
• pp.88-93
• /
• 2015

Objective : Elevated cellular retinoic acid binding protein-I (CRABP-I) is thought to be related to the abnormal proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Accordingly, a higher CRABP-I level could cause disorganized vessel walls by causing immature SMC phenotypes and altering extracellular matrix proteins which could result in vulnerable arterial walls with inadequate responses to hemodynamic stress. We hypothesized that elevated CRABP-I level in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) could be related to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Moreover, we also extended this hypothesis in patients with vascular malformation according to the presence of hemorrhage. Methods : We investigated the CSF of 26 patients : SAH, n=7; unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA), n=7; arteriovenous malformation (AVM), n=4; cavernous malformation (CM), n=3; control group, n=5. The optical density of CRABP-I was confirmed by Western blotting and presented as mean${\pm}$standard error of the measurement. Results : CRABP-I in SAH ($0.33{\pm}0.09$) was significantly higher than that in the UIA ($0.12{\pm}0.01$, p=0.033) or control group ($0.10{\pm}0.01$, p=0.012). Hemorrhage presenting AVM (mean 0.45, ranged 0.30-0.59) had a higher CRABP-I level than that in AVM without hemorrhage presentation (mean 0.16, ranged 0.14-0.17). The CRABP-I intensity in CM with hemorrhage was 0.21 and 0.31, and for CM without hemorrhage 0.14. Overall, the hemorrhage presenting group (n=11, $0.34{\pm}0.06$) showed a significantly higher CRABP-I intensity than that of the non-hemorrhage presenting group (n= 10, $0.13{\pm}0.01$, p=0.001). Conclusion : The results suggest that elevated CRABP-I in the CSF could be related with aneurysm rupture. Additionally, a higher CRABP-I level seems to be associated with hemorrhage development in vascular malformation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.400-408
• /
• 2013

This study aimed to investigate the relaxation effects and its underlying mechanisms of Rubus coreanus(RC) extract in contracted rabbit corpus cavernous tissues by phenylephrine(PE) $1{\mu}M$. In order to define the relaxation effects of RC, rabbit corpus cavernous tissues were prepared in $2{\times}2{\times}6mm$ sized strip. The dose-dependent relaxation responses of RC at 0.01-3.0 $mg/m{\ell}$ in contracted strips induced by PE were measured and also observed after endothelial denudation. To analyze the underlying mechanisms of RC-induced relaxation, indomethacin(IM), tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA), $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), methylene blue(MB) were treated before RC extract infused into precontracted strips induced by PE. To study the effect of RC extract on influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in corpus cavernous strips, calcium chloride(Ca) 1 mM infused into precontracted strips induced by PE after pretreatment of RC extract in $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs-ringer solution. To investigate cytotoxic activity and nitric oxide(NO) concentration of RC extract on human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC), cell viability on HUVEC was measured by MTT assay, and NO concentration was measured by Griess reagent system. The cavernous strips were significantly relaxed by RC extract at 1.0 $mg/m{\ell}$, 3.0 $mg/m{\ell}$ and the relaxation responses to RC were inhibited significantly by endothelial disruption. The pretreatment of IM, TEA didn't affect RC extract-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation, but the pretreatment of L-NNA, MB reduced RC extract-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation. When $Ca^{2+}$ was supplied the cavernous strips which were precontracted by PE in a $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs-ringer solution, contraction of strips was increased, but pretreatment of RC inhibited contractile response to $Ca^{2+}$. When RC extract was applicated on HUVEC, NO concentration was increased. Our findings show that RC extract exerts a relaxing effect on corpus cavernosum in part by suppressing influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through activating the NO-cGMP system.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.406-412
• /
• 2011

Background: Development of thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections (TAAD) is attributed to unbearable wall tension superimposed on defective aortic wall integrity and impaired aortic repair mechanisms. Central to this repair mechanisms are well-balanced and adequately functional cellular components of the aortic wall, including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), inflammatory cells, and adventitial fibroblasts. Adventitial fibroblasts naturally produce aortic extracellular matrix (ECM), and, when aortic wall is injured, they can be transformed into SMCs, which in turn are involved in aortic remodeling. We postulated the hypothesis that adventitial fibroblasts in patients with TAAD may have defects in ECM production and SMC transformation. Materials and Methods: Adventitial fibroblasts were procured from the adventitial layer of fresh aortic tissues of patients with TAAD (Group I) and of multi-organ donors (Group II), and 4-passage cell culture was performed prior to the experiment. To assess ECM production, cells were treated with TNF-${\alpha}$ (50 pM) and the expression of MMP-2/MMP-3 was analyzed using western blot technique. To assess SMC transformation capacity, cells were treated with TGF-${\beta}1$ and expression of SM ${\alpha}$-actin, SM-MHC, Ki-67 and SM calponin was evaluated using western blot technique. Fibroblasts were then treated with TGF-${\beta}1$ (10 pM) for up to 10 days with TGF-${\beta}1$ supplementation every 2 days, and the proportion of transformed SMC in the cell line was measured using immunofluorescence assay for fibroblast surface antigen every 2 days. Results: MMP-3 expression was significantly lower in group I than in group II. TGF-${\beta}1$-stimulated adventitial fibroblasts in group I expressed less SM ${\alpha}$-actin, SM-MHC, and Ki-67 than in group II. SM-calponin expression was not different between the two groups. Presence of fibroblast was observed on immunofluorescence assay after more than 6 days of TGF-${\beta}1$ treatment in group I, while most fibroblasts were transformed to SMC within 4 days in group II. Conclusion: ECM production and SMC transformation are compromised in adventitial fibroblasts from patients with TAAD. This result suggests that functional restoration of adventitial fibroblasts could well be a novel approach for the prevention and treatment of TAAD.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.285-290
• /
• 1995

This study was undertaken to define the varying responses of vascular smooth muscle to different wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation and to relate them to the changes in cyclic GMP contents. The ring preparations of rat thoracic aorta with intact or removed endothelium were irradiated with the ultraviolet or visible light (UVR) of wavelengths in step of 10 nm between 250 and 500 nm from xenon lamp of a spectrofluorometer, and the changes in vascular tension were recorded. For cyclic GMP assay, the preparations, pretreated with phenylephrine as in the tension experinents, were frozen after irradiation and homogenated in trichloroacetic acid. The supernatant was extracted with ether and the cyclic GMP contents were measured with radioimmunoassay. In the endothelium-intact preparations, biphasic responses, vasoconstriction (UVR-contraction) followed by vasodilatation (UVR-dilatation), were observed. The maximal UVR-contraction was observed at 320 nm, while the maximal vasodilatation was elicited at 420 nm. In the endothelium-removed rings, however, only vasodilatation was observed, with the maximal vasodilatation taking place at 370 nm. The cyclic GMP contents were not affected by the Irradiation with 320 nm for 30 sec or 1 min in the endothelium-intact preparations, while it was significantly increased by 380 and 420 nm. In the endothelium-removed preparations, UVR of 370 nm markedly increased the cyclic GMP contents. The present study indicates that the increase in cyclic GMP is closely related to vasodilatation induced by UVR of 420 nm in the endothelium-intact or 370 nm in the denuded preparations, whereas it is not involved in the vasoconstriction induced by UVR of 320 nm in the intact rings, and the mechanism leading to UVR-contraction remains to be clarified. These observations suggest that nitric oxide-cyclic GMP system is closely related to the UVR-dilatation in rat aortic preparation, while it is not involved in the UVR contraction.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.291-297
• /
• 1995

The objectives of this study is to compare the inhibitory mechanism of sodium nitroprusside and forskolin on the phorbol ester, activator of protein kinase C (PKC), -induced contractions in rat aorta. $0.1\;{\mu}M$ phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu) induced sustained contractions and increased phosphorylations of myosin light chain (MLC) time-dependently. At 30 min, the contractions and phosphorylations of MLC by PDBu were augmented maximally and remained constant. Moreover, $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake was increased 30 min after PDBu stimulation from resting values. Sodium nitroprusside which activates guanylyl cyclase followed by increasing cGMP, inhibited the PDBu-induced contractions concentration-dependently. On the other hand, forskolin which activates adenylyl cyclase followed by increasing cAMP, also inhibited the PDBu-induced contractions concentration-dependently. However, sodium nitroprusside was more potent to inhibition of the PDBu-induced contractions than forskolin. Sodium nitroprusside inhibited $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake by PDBu stimulation. Forskolin also inhibited $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake by PDBu stimulation. Sodium nitroprusside and forskolin inhibited the phosphorylations of MLC by PDBu, respectively. However, sodium nitroprusside was more potent to inhibition of phosphorylations of MLC by PDBu than forskolin. From these results, Sodium nitroprusside via cGMP or forskilin via cAMP may reduce myoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$ followed by suppression of phosphorylations of MLC of PKC-mediated contractions, which results in vasodilation. However, cGMP may play a role more importantly than cAMP on the regulation of protein kinase C-mediated contraction in vascular smooth muscle.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.194-204
• /
• 2011

This study was carried out to compare the histopathological differences of liver lesions in carbon tetrachloride ($CCI_4$), dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), thioacetamide (TAA) and bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced rats. $CCl_4$, DMN and TAA were administered intraperitoneally and conducted bile duct ligation for 4 weeks to induce hepatic fibrosis. Indices of liver cell injury (steatosis, hydropic degeneration, bile duct hyperplasia, hemorrhage & hemosiderin deposition), the extent of liver fibrosis (fibrotic area) and the rate of regeneration (number of PCNA-positive cells) were investigated in each group. Liver tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), sirius red, prussian blue and immunostained with ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA), transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$), proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and quantified using a computerized image analysis system. Liver cell steatosis was significantly increased in $CCl_4$ and TAA groups, and hydropic degeneration and bile duct hyperplasia were significantly increased in TAA and BDL groups when compared with that in normal control, respectively. Fibrosis area was significantly increased in all four groups, especially in $CCl_4$ group. Correlation between ${\alpha}$-SMA and TGF-${\beta}1$ expressions in four groups was good. Hemorrhage area in liver parenchyma was significantly increased in DMN group only when compared with that in normal control, while hemosiderin deposition area was significantly increased in TAA and BDL groups as well as DMN group. The Number of PCNA-positive cells was significantly increased in all four groups, especially in TAA group. These results indicate that the duration and methods of hepatotoxic drug treatment are very important factors to make plans for animal experimentation on the induction of hepatic fibrogenesis in rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.415-425
• /
• 1999

$[K^+]_o$ can be increased under a variety of conditions including subarachnoid hemorrhage. The increase of $[K^+]_o$ in the range of $5{\sim}15$ mM may affect tensions of blood vessels and cause relaxation of agonist-induced precontracted vascular smooth muscle $(K^+-induced$ relaxation). In this study, effect of the increase in extracellular $K^+$ concentration on the agonist-induced contractions of various arteries including resistant arteries of rabbit was examined, using home-made Mulvany-type myograph. Extracellular $K^+$ was increased in three different ways; from initial 1 to 3 mM, from initial 3 to 6 mM, or from initial 6 to 12 mM. In superior mesenteric arteries, the relaxation induced by extracellular $K^+$ elevation from initial 6 to 12 mM was the most prominent among the relaxations induced by the elevations in three different ways. In cerebral arteries, the most prominent relaxation was produced by the elevation of extracellular $K^+$ from initial 1 to 3 mM and a slight relaxation was provoked by the elevation from initial 6 to 12 mM. In superior mesenteric arteries, $K^+-induced$ relaxation by the elevation from initial 6 to 12 mM was blocked by $Ba^{2+}\;(30\;{\mu}M)$ and the relaxation by the elevation from 1 to 3 mM or from 3 to 6 mM was not blocked by $Ba^{2+}.$ In cerebral arteries, however, $K^+-induced$ relaxation by the elevation from initial 3 to 6 mM was blocked by $Ba^{2+},$ whereas the relaxation by the elevation from 1 to 3 mM was not blocked by $Ba^{2+}.$ Ouabain inhibited all of the relaxations induced by the extracellular $K^+$ elevations in three different ways. In cerebral arteries, when extracellular $K^+$ was increased to 14 mM with 2 or 3 mM increments, almost complete relaxation was induced at 1 or 3 mM of initial $K^+$ concentration and slight relaxation occurred at 6 mM. TEA did not inhibit $Ba^{2+}-sensitive$ relaxation at all and NMMA or endothelial removal did not inhibit $K^+-induced$ relaxation. Most conduit arteries such as aorta, carotid artery, and renal artery were not relaxed by the elevation of extracellular $K^+.$ Among conduit arteries, trunk of superior mesenteric artery and basilar artery were relaxed by the elevations of $[K^+]_o.$ These data suggest that $K^+-induced$ relaxation has two independent components, $Ba^{2+}-sensitive$ and $Ba^{2+}-insensitive$ one and there are different mechanisms for $K^+-induced$ relaxation in various arteries.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 1990

Cyclobuxine D is a steroidal alkaloid, which was extracted from Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai. In our previous studies, we clarified several pharmacological actions of cyclobuxine D: an antiinflammatory action, hypotensive and bradycardiac effects, negative inotropic effects on the several smooth muscles and cardiac muscle. The present study was undertaken to elucidate possible mechanisms by protection of myocardial tells from ischemia and reperfusion induced derangement in cardiac function and metabolism by cyclobuxine D. For this purpose, the isolated rat heart was used. Rat hearts were perfused for 60 min under ischemia conditions in the presence and absence of cyclobuxine D and verapamil, and for 30 min under reperfusion conditions. Ischemia produced a marked decline in contractile force, an increase of resting tension, an immediate release of ATP metabolites and an accumulation of calcium in the left ventricle. Cyclobuxine D (100ng/ml) ameliorated the myocardial injury produced by ischemia.