• Animal cells and systems
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.283-289
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• 2010

Ssanghwa-tang (SHT) is a traditional Korean herbal medicine widely prescribed to decrease fatigue following an illness. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of SHT on osteoclast differentiation in vitro, and on bone loss in ovariectomized (OVX) rats in vivo. SHT significantly reduced the receptor activator for the nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) ligand (RANKL)-induced tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity, and multinucleated osteoclast formation in RAW264.7 cells without affecting cell viability. In addition, SHT significantly attenuated RANKL-induced mRNA expression levels of c-Src and cathepsin K. To examine the in vivo effect of SHT on OVX-induced bone loss in OVX rats, we administered SHT (0.6 g/kg BID) orally to OVX rats for 12 weeks. SHT administration significantly blocked OVX-induced decrease of femoral bone mineral density (BMD) and femoral trabeculae in OVX rats. In conclusion, these results suggest that SHT treatment effectively prevents OVX-induced bone loss, and this effect may result from its inhibitory effect on osteoclast differentiation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.506-510
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• 2012

Bone homeostasis is regulated by the balance between bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. Osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease are related with up-regulated osteoclast formation and its activity. Gol-Swae-Bo(Drynariae Rhizoma) is widely used on skeletal disease. In this study, we sought to examine the effect of Drynariae Rhizoma in RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation. The extract of Drynariae Rhizoma inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in a dose dependent manner without cytotoxicity. receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand(RANKL) mediated $I{\kappa}B$ degradation in bone marrow macrophages(BMMs). However, the extract of Drynariae Rhizoma inhibited RANKL induced $I{\kappa}B$ degradation in BMMs. And mRNA expression of OSCAR, TRAP, c-Fos and NFATc1 was suppressed by the extract of Drynariae Rhizoma. Moreover, the extract of Drynariae Rhizoma inhibited the protein expression of NFATc1 and c-Fos induced by RANKL. After all the analysis, these results suggest that Drynariae Rhizoma may be good candidate of medicine in the treatment of bone-related disease.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.1211-1215
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• 2014

We developed a new $Rb_2LiCeCl_6$ scintillator and determined the scintillation and thermoluminescence properties of the scintillator. The emission spectrum of $Rb_2LiCeCl$ is located in the range of 350 ~ 410 nm, peaking at 368 nm and 378 nm, due to the 4f ${\rightarrow}$ 5d transition of $Ce^{3+}$ ions. The fluorescence decay time of the crystal is composed two components. The fast component is 71 ns (85%) and the slow component is 405 ns (15%) of the crystal. The after-glow is caused by the electron and hole traps in the crystal lattice. We determined physical parameters of the traps in the crystal. The determined activation energy(E), kinetic order(m) and frequency factor(s) of the trap are 0.75 eV, 1.48 and $3.0{\times}10^8s^{-1}$, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.90 no.1
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• pp.139-145
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• 2001

Behavior of Matsucoccus thunbergianae Miller and Park males immediately after emergence from their cocooning site, and meteorological factors affecting the responsiveness of the flying males to synthetic pheromone were studied. On Pinus thunbergii saplings, newly emerged males walked around to locate females. The males lanuched themselves into flight after up to three times of copulation. Without the presence of females, the males took off within five minutes whereas when the females were placed nearby but copulation was artifically prohibited the males did not take off. In a wind tunnel, the presence of female pheromone discouraged male take off. More males were flying in sunny area than in shade, but light intensity had no effect on the responsiveness of males toward the pheromone source. Wind speed was the main meteorological factor that affected the male responsiveness. Most males, after hitting the substrate near pheromone source with various posture, stood on their feet and approached the source.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2006

The present study was undertaken to determine the possible cellular mechanism of action of angiopoietin-2 in bone metabolism. The effects on the osteoblasts were determined by measuring 1) cell viability, 2) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, 3) gelatinase activity, and 4) nitric oxide production. The effects on the osteoclasts were investigated by measuring 1) tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)(+) multinucleated cells (MNCs) formation, and 2) resorption areas after culturing osteoclast precursors. Angiopoietin-2 treatment showed a significant increase in both the viability and ALP activity of osteoblasts. Angiopoietin-2 increased the activity of gelatinase and nitric oxide production. In addition, angiopoietin-2 decreased the osteoclast generation induced by macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL), and inhibited osteoclastic activity in (M-CSF)-dependent bone marrow macrophage (MDBM) cell cultures. Taken these results, angiopoietin-2 may be a regulatory protein within the bone marrow microenvironment.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.1008-1013
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• 2011

Osteoporosis is the leading underlying cause of fractures, particularly in postmenopausal women, due to the loss of estrogen-mediated suppression of bone resorption. More than 50% of adults 50 years of age or older are estimated to have osteoporosis. Osteoclast which is main target for treatment of osteoporosis is originated from hematopoietic cell line. Aloe has been widely used in worldwide country as a coadjuvant medicine. Extracts of the leaves of Aloe have been used in condition to improve dermatologic problem such as seborrheic dermatitis, aphthous stomatitis, xerosis, lichen planus and has been known to exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-tumor effects. However, despite the popularity of aloe as a plant food supplements, the evaluation of its efficacy as a possible therapeutic option for osteoporosis remains scarce. Thus, we evaluated the effect of Aloe on receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. Here we found that Aloe significantly inhibited osteoclast differentiation induced by RANKL. Aloe suppressed the activation of p38 pathway and $NF{\kappa}B$ in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) treated with RANKL. Also, Aloe significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of c-Fos, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)c1 and cathepsin K in BMMs treated with RANKL. Particularly, Aloe greatly inhibited the protein expression of c-fos and NFATc1. Taken together, our results suggested that Aloe may be useful tool for treatment of osteoporosis by inhibition of osteoclast differentiation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.160-165
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• 2012

Osteoporotic fracture became a serious social problem, which related with mortality and morbidity in old age population. Osteoclast which is responsible for bone resorption is originated from hematopoietic cell line and plays a key role osteoporotic bone loss. Cynanchum wilfordii (Asclepiadaceae) roots have been used in Korean folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and aging progression. Also, recent studies have shown that the extract and fractions of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix have various pharmacological actions including scavenging free radicals, enhancing immunity, reducing high serum cholesterol, and anti-tumor activity. However, the effect of extract of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix in osteoclast differentiation had not been reported. Thus, we evaluated the effect of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix on receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. Through our study, we found that Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix significantly inhibited osteoclast differentiation induced by RANKL. Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix suppressed the activation of p38 pathway and $NF{\kappa}B$ in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) treated with RANKL. Also, Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of c-Fos, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)c1 and cathepsin K in BMMs treated with RANKL. Particularly, Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix inhibited the protein expression of c-fos and NFATc1. Taken together, our results demonstrated that Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix may be useful treatment option of bone-related disease such as osteoporosis leads to fracture of bone and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.431-436
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• 2013

Bone homeostasis is maintained by co-ordination of bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. Imbalance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts leads to many bone diseases such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis. Taxillus chinensis is a herb that has been widely used to improve bone health. However, the effect and mechanism of Taxillus chinensis extract on osteoclast differentiation and bone resportion has been unknown. Thus, We investigated the effect of Taxillus chinensis on expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Also, the action of Taxillus chinensis on mechanisms relating to osteoclast differentiation was studied. In this results, we identified that Taxillus chinensis significantly inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and bone resportion. Moreover, Taxillus chinensis was suppressed the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in bone marrow macrophage treated RANKL and M-CSF. Taxillus chinensis was down-regulated the mRNA expression of c-Fos, nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT)c1, osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). The cell adhesion-related molecules such as integrin ${\alpha}v$ and integrin ${\beta}3$, and the filamentous actin (F-actin) rings of mature osteoclasts-related molecules such as dendritic cell-specific transmembrane preotein (DC-STAMP) and cathepsin K are also suppressed. Taken together, these results indicated that Taxillus chinensis will be a good candidate to treat osteoclast-mediated bone diseases.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 1997

Retention ponds have been dug along some of the motorways to control water flow during rainstorms and to minmize environmental pollution. A retention pond located at Les Ardilleres about 20km South of Orleans along the A-71 motorway has been selected to evaluate the effectiveness of such a pond as a trap for heavy metals. Based on the "index of geoaccumulation" and the "enrichment factor" normalized to Fe introduced by Muller in 1979 and by Helz in 1976, respectively, the degree of contamination by heavy metals for the roadside soil and the settling particles was evaluated. As expected, the contamination was very severe in the roadside soil, while it was not so great in the settling particles. Using these methods, cadmium anomaly was traced in the settling particles of the retention pond, their occurrence being attributed partly to natural and partly to anthropogenic pollution. The estimated input of heavy metals associated with settling particles to the pond was 0.9 g/day Pb, 2.1 g/day Zn and 6mg/day Cd. A tentative mass balance of Pb and Zn originated by motor vehicles suggested that only 5 to l1% of heavy metals deposited on the surface of the motorway is carried to the retention pond by runoff water ; suggestions are made to improve their efficiency.ve their efficiency.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.320-324
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• 2012

Osteoporosis is an important public health issue in postmenopausal women. It is a major public health concern and is widely believed that osteoporosis results from imbalance between bone resorption and bone formation. Recently natural products from plants have been extensively studied as therapeutic drugs to treat and prevent various diseases. Hoelen (scientific name, Poria cocos) is a mushroom that is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Hoelen exhibits anti-inflammatory activity and has a protective effect on tumor progression. However, the effect of hoelen in osteoclast differentiation remains unknown. Thus, we examined the effect of hoelen in receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. Hoelen significantly inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) in dose dependent manner without toxicity. Also, we showed that hoelen significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of tartrate-resistant acid phophatase (TRAP) and nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1) in BMMs treated with RANKL. In Particular, hoelen greatly inhibited the protein expression of NFATc1. Ectopic expression of NFATc1 partially reverses hoelen-mediated inhibition of osteoclast differentiation. Taken together, our results demonstrated that hoelen may be useful treatment option of bone-related disease such as osteoporosis, reumatoid arthritis, and periodontitis.