• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.125-132
• /
• 2017

Bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor, induces toxicity in cells and in experimental animals. Ginseng extracts were evaluated to determine whether they can inhibit BPA-induced toxicity. The antioxidant activity of fresh ginseng extract (WGE), dried white ginseng extract (DGE), and dried red ginseng extract (RGE) was measured using the DPPH assay. WGE and RGE increased DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Cell viability was measured in HepG2 cells following treatment with BPA and ginseng extracts using the MTT assay. DGE and RGE increased HepG2 cell viability following treatment with $200{\mu}M$ BPA. RGE reduced levels of biochemical markers of liver damage, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) that increased in mice following treatment with BPA. In addition, the regeneration and proliferation of damaged liver cells were significantly increased in RGE-treated mice. Moreover, RGE inhibited hepatic fibrosis in the surrounding area and in the central vein of the liver microstructure. RGE also significantly inhibited BPA-induced cytotoxicity. In addition, RGE protected liver damage and regenerated liver tissues in BPA-treated animals. These results show that RGE may represent a potential candidate drug for the treatment and prevention of liver damage caused by environmental toxins.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.56-68
• /
• 2001

Objective : Functional brain mapping study on acupuncture stimulation using the [14C]2-deoxyglucose([14C]2-DG) autoradiography provides quantitative data and visualized pathway in central nervous system(CNS). We aimed to investigate the neural pathway and spatial distribution of metabolic activity elicited in CNS on electroacupuncture stimulation using [14C]2-DG autoradiography. Methods : The study were divided into three groups by stimulation times. 45-mins stimulation group according to Sokoloffs method, 5-mins stimulation group according to Duncun's method, and 15-mins stimulation group. ;A venous catheter was equipped into right jugular vein. The rats (Sprague-Dawley rats, 230-260g) were kept fastened loosely on a holding platform without anesthesia. Electroacupuncture stimulation (5 ms, 2 Hz, 1~3 mA) were applied on the left Zusanli (ST36) acupoint and [14C]2-DG ($25{\mu}Ci/rat$) injection was performed through the catheter. After sacrifice, the brain and the spinal cord were made to sections for film image. The film images were digitalized as the isotope concentration based upon comparison of optical densities with that of the standards and normalized by the optical density of corpus callosum. Results : 1. 15-mins stimulation group was most effective among 3 experiments. 2. On 15-mins stimulation group, medial geniculate nucleus, intetpeduncular nucleus intermedius, ventral periolivary nucleus, caudal periolivary nucleus, medial superior olive, lateral paragigantocellular nucleus, including hypothalamic arcuate nucleus were increased by more than 25% (at least, p<0.05) by electroacupuncture stimulation. 3. Especially, the metabolism in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus was increased by 90% (p<0.05). 4. The fact that arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus might play a role of interconnection area between ascending and descending pathway of acupuncture stimulation was demonstrated visually. Conclusions : Advanced study on electroacupuncture stimulation elicited significant increase of metabolic activity in various nuclei of hypothalamus will provide the important experimental basis in research of the relationship between electroacupuncture stimulation and internal visceral functions.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.399-410
• /
• 2002

This study was performed to investigate the effects of Bambusae Caulis in Liquamen (bamboo extract) on the changes of antioxidant enzymes and histopathological changes of liver and kidney in mice when administered in different dosages. The experimental groups were divided into four. For control group, 0.9％ NaCl (0.2 ml/25 g B.W.) and for experimental groups, 5% (H1 group), 10% (H2 group), and 20%(H3 group) bamboo extract diluted with 0.9％ NaCl, were administered (0.2 ml/25 g B.W.) respectively for 28 days at an interval of 48 hours. MnSOD activities were increased in H1 group (46%, P<0.05), H2 group (40%, P<0.05), and H3 group (34%, P<0.05) as compared to the control group. CuZnSOD activities were increased in H1 group (11%, P<0.05), but were decreased in H3 group (13%, P<0.05). The activities of catalase were decreased in H1 group (39%, P<0.05), H2 group (34%, P<0.05), and H3 group (31%, P<0.05) as compared to the control group. Histopathological observation revealed ballooned hepatocytes in the pericentral and periportal veins of H1 group. More ballooned and injured hepatocytes than in H1 group were observed in the H2 and H3 groups. Detachment of endothelial cells of the central vein was observed in the H2 and H3 groups. These results indicated that bamboo extract developed dose-dependent changes in antioxidant enzyme activities and developed histopathological changes of liver and kidney.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.315-325
• /
• 2007

Histological changes in gill and liver of eel, Anguilla japonica (average weight 96±3.6 g) were examined with formalin bath at 0~500 ppm for 1, 6 and 24 h. Hyperplasia, hypertrophy, cell fusion, desquamation and necrosis of epithelial cells at gill lamella and gill filament were observed from 6 h at 200 ppm, 1 h at 300 ppm, 1 h at 400 ppm and 1 h at 500 ppm. In the exposure of formalin 100 ppm for 24 h, epithelial cells arrangement of gill filament and gill lamella showed thinner and more regular order than the control. trophy and pyknosis of hepatocytes, congestion at sinus or central vein, degeneration of cytoplasm were observed in the liver from 24 h at 100 ppm and 200 ppm, 6 h at 300 ppm, 1 h at 400 ppm and 500 ppm. However, there were not any histological changes at liver of 100 ppm-1, 6 h, 200 ppm-1, 6 h and 300 ppm-1 h compared with the tissue of control.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.51-58
• /
• 2008

The present study was designed to explore the immunotoxic effects of orally administered aluminum (AI) on pregnant rats (n = 60) and their growing fetuses and consequently on the animal wealth. The animals were randomly allocated into three equal groups of 20 rats each. The first group has no treatment and kept as a control (G1). The second and third groups of pregnant rats were treated orally with aluminum chloride at 345 mg/Kg b.wt. The second group (G2) received the tested compound from the $6^{th}$ day of gestation to the end of weaning, whereas the third group (G3) received the tested compound from the $15^{th}$h day of gestation to the end of weaning. Control and treated animals (dams and offspring) were immunized ip with (0.5 ml) 20% sheep red blood cell (SRBC) suspension seven days before the end of experiments. At the end of exposure, ten dams and ten offspring from each group were used for assessment of cell-mediated immunity and a similar number of animals were sacrificed for evaluating the humoral immune response and serum protein profile. Aluminum chloride exposure of dams ($G_2&G_3$) caused significant suppression of both cell mediated and humoral immune responses in the obtained offsprings compared to the control group ($G_1$) without any significant effect on the immune responses of these dams. Moreover, the serum total globulins, albumin/ globulin (A/G) ratio and gamma globulin fraction were significantly decreased in the treated dam's offsprings compared to the corresponding controls while the serum total protein and all serum protein fractions showed non significant difference between the control and treated dams and between the two treated dam groups themselves. There were no histopathological changes observed in thymus, spleen and liver of the control and treated dams. Thymus of treated dam's offsprings (G2) showed lymphoid depletion in both cortex and medulla. Their spleens showed lymphoid depletion in the white pulps and congestion with hemosiderosis in the red pulps. Liver of treated dam's offsprings showed dilation and congestion of its central vein with degenerative changes in the hepatocytes. These histopathological changes were more severe in G2 than in G3 offsprings. It can be concluded that gestational and/ or lactation exposure of pregnant dams to AI chloride caused suppression of both cellular and humoral immune responses of their offsprings.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.1055-1060
• /
• 2004

Apoptosis is the ability of cells to self-destruct by the activation of an intrinsic cellular suicide program when the cells are no longer needed or when they are seriously damaged. Morphologically, apoptosis is characterized by the appearance of membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, DNA cleavage, and the fragmentation of the cell membrane-bound apoptotic bodies. Siegesbeckia glabrescens Makino (Siegesbeckiae Herba, SG) has been widely used as treatments for arthritis, and fever, as well as detoxification properties. The present studies were undertaken to evaluate if SG has an anti-apoptotic property. Cell viability was measured by XTT and tryphan blue stain. Morphological characteristic of human aortic smooth muscle cells(HASMC) were visualized with a phase-contrast microscope. SG significantly reduced HASMC, but not human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC), viability in a dose-dependent manner. Confluent untreated cells at 24hrs showed normal morphology, flat with a uniform polygonal shape. SG-treated cells (0.5㎎/㎖) at 24hrs showed apoptotic morphology. Cells became irregular with elongated lamellipodia, and exhibited condensed chromatin in nuclei with occasional endoucleation. There was an increase in the number of apoptotic cells rounding-up and being detached from the substrate. TUNEL staining of SG-treated cells showed dark-brown stains in nuclei and cytosol. Caspases are central components of the machinery responsible for apoptosis and are generally divided into two categories; the initiator caspases, which include caspases-2,-8,-9, and -10, and the effector caspases, which include caspases-3,-6, and -7. SG decreased anti-caspase-3 protein expression, which means activation of caspases-3 activity. It has been reported that there is a link between NO formation and apoptosis. NO production was accelerated by SG treatment in HASMC. L-NNA, NOS inhibitor, inhibited SG-induced apoptosis. These results, therefore, indicated that both caspases-3 and NO production are involved in apoptosis in smooth muscle cells. According to these results, SG may have a potential effect in the treatment of hypertensive atherosclerosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.15-23
• /
• 1987

To elucidate the mechanism of splanchnic hyperemia associated with chronic portal hypertension, we have investigated the alteration in visceral reflexes in conjuction with circulatory hemodynamics in portal ligated portal hypertension in cats. When capsaicin, bradykinin and vasopressin were injected via splenic artery of sham cat, respectively, they caused not only reflex excitation of systemic arterial pressure, but also elevation of splenic venous pressure with unchanged heart rates. Simultaneously, they evoked the sympathetic efferent excitation of liver (spleno-hepatic reflex) as well as of spleen (spleno-splenic reflex). Similarly, capsaicin upon pledging on the liver surface evoked a significant increase in the pressor reflex with hepatic nerve excitation (hepato-hepatic reflex). After portal ligation, the splenic venous pressure was gradually elevated in association with decrease in systemic arterial pressure. However, the excitation of pressor reflex was enhanced on the and day, thereafter, being returned to the control, and the reflexly induced spleno-splenic, spleno-hepatic and hepato-hepatic sympathetic excitations were significantly diminished on the 8th day following portal vein ligation. In conclusion, it is suggested that sympathetic reflexes to spleen and liver are specifically intervened by the same central pathways and furthermore, the diminution of these viscero-visceral reflex excitations after portal ligation may be related to the intestinal hyperemia.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.91-101
• /
• 2012

This study's purpose is to research the antioxidant power of Calaguala (Polypodium leucotomos, PL) as an oral supplement: Calaguala, a native of Central America, is a fern which belongs to the family polypodiaceae protecting the skin from the ultraviolet and active oxygen free radicals. The total 14 volunteers, each female 7 & male 7, were divided into 2 groups, then exposed to UV for 30 min after taking Calaguala and placebo. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was analyzed by taking the blood samples from anticubital vein 3 hours after UV exposure. First, Calaguala siginifcantly decreased the concentration of active oxygen free radicals 4 weeks later. The concentration of active oxygen free radical in PL group declined more than placebo group, when measured 30 min and 3 hours after UV exposure. Second, Calaguala did not significantly increase TAC 4 weeks later, but significantly decreased TAC 3 hours after exposure, when compared with placebo group. Now days, the photo allergy and photo aging caused by air pollution and ozone destruction have drastically increased, and thus the amount of UV radiation reaching the earth's surface increased. The increase of active free oxygen radicals resulted in accelerating the diseases and aging. The first superficial protecting protection by reflection & dispersion and the second body internal protection by taking oral photo antioxidant such as Calaguala should be continuously researched.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.21
• /
• pp.9505-9509
• /
• 2014

Objective: To investigate the effects of stellate ganglion block (SGB) on the peri-operative vasomotor cytokine content and intrapulmonary shunt in patients with esophagus cancer who underwent thoracotomy. Materials and Methods: Forty patients undergoing elective resection of esophageal cancer patients who had I~II American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) were randomly divided into total intravenous anesthesia group (group N, n=20) and total intravenous anesthesia combined with SGB group (group S, n=20, 0.12 mL/kg 1% lidocaine was used for SGB 10 min before induction). Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) and continuous cardiac output (CCO) were continuously monitored. The blood from internal jugular vein was drawn respectively before induction ($T_0$), and 30 min ($T_1$), 60 min ($T_2$) and 120 min ($T_3$) after one-lung ventilation (OLV), and 30 min (T4) after two-lung ventilation. The contents of plasma endothelin (ET), nitric oxide (NO) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Meanwhile, arterial and mixed venous blood samples were collected for determination of blood gas and calculation of intrapulmonary shunt fraction (Qs/Qt). Results: During OLV, ET contents were increased significantly in two groups (P<0.05), and no significant difference was presented (P>0.05). NO content in group S was obviously higher than in group N at T3 (P<0.05), whereas CGRP content in group N was markedly lower than in group S at each time point (P<0.05). Qs/Qt was significantly increased in both groups after OLV, but there was no statistical significant regarding the Qs/Qt at each time point between two groups. Conclusions: Total intravenous anesthesia combined with SGB is conducive to regulation of perioperative vasomotor cytokines in thoracotomy, and has little effect on intrapulmonary shunt at the time of OLV.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.70-78
• /
• 1975

The investigators conducted this survey to find out prevalence of diseases and symptoms of the 812 nurses who were working at the 12 Seoul city and University's hospital in Seoul by retrospective study The results of survey were summarized as follows: 1. Distribution of Prevalence Rate of Diseases and Symptoms. 1) An average prevalence rate of diseases and Symptoms of the nurses/100 persons was 64.3 cases at Present October I.1972 2) The total number of diseases and Symptoms was 522 cases at present Oct, I 1972 for the survey nurses. The prevalence rate of following diseases/100 persons were as, foot sore-11, 3. myopia-9.7, neuralgia-9.6, anemia-9.1, insomnia-8.6 cases and the corrected number percent of prevalence rate of diseases and symptoms of the above diseases into 100 denominator were as follows : foot sore-17.6% , myopia-15.4%, neuralgia-14.9%, anemia-14.2% insomnia-13.2%. 3) The prevalence rate of diseases and symptoms/100 person for the age group of 45 and over was 140.0 cases and the age of 35-39 years was 27.3 cases. 4) The prevalence rate of diseases and symptoms/100 persons by the rotation system of nurses'duty/day were as follows: two shift system rotation-86.7 cases, three shift system rotation-67.9 cases and day duty only was 56.2 cases, 5) The prevalence rate of diseases and symptoms/100 person by the basic nursing education background seemed to be lower occurrence against to the higher education and it was 94.4 cases at the Technical Nursing High School graduates. 6) The prevalence rate of diseases and symptoms/100 persons by the marital status of the nurses were as follows; single-64.8 cases, married-48, 7 cases, and widowed-28.6 cases. II. Relationship Between working Experience and prevalence of the Disease and symptoms. 1) There were no relationship by statistical test between prevalence of eye disease and experience at the eye ward(p〉0.05), skin disease and experience at the dermatology ward (p〉0.05), foot sore and experience at the operating room (p〉0.05), varicose vein and experience at the operating room (p〉0.05), sore finger and experience at the central supply room (p〉0.05), infectious disease and experience at the isolation ward(p〉0.05). 2) There was significant relationship by statistical test between pulmonary tuberculosis and experience at the tuberculosis ward (p〉0.05) prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis was five times in experienced group than non experienced group.