• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.76-89
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• 2001

OMH which is known for its properties of recruiting vitality, is composed of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. and Sesamum indicum DC.. This formula is known to possess the properties of recruiting vitality, blackening white hair and expanding life span. 16-week-old SD-Rats were treated with OMH for 16 days. After 24 hours, the rats were treated with MTX(Mthotrexate is oral administrated for 4 days(1mg/kg/day), in order to lower immunity. Then, These rats were classified in to groups, the N-16 group(not specially tested), the Control group(MTX), the OMH-L group(2.5% OMH+MTX)&the OMH-H group(10% OMH+MTX) and 6 rats were assigned to each group. After 18 hours from MTX treatment the organ index of the rats from each group Thymus and Spleen were measured. The percentage of CD+4, CD8+ T cell were measured and compared by flow cytometer. 1) Rats from the OHM-L&OMH-H group showed higher organ indexes of the Thymus and Spleen compared to the rats from the Control Group. This proves that OMH possesses the properties to mitigate degenerations of immunity($F_{thymus}=20.162,\;F_{spleen}=5.882$, ANDVA, p<0.05). 2) The rats from the two OMH groups showed higher rates of CD4+ T cell counts compared to the control group(F=26.906, ANOVA, p<0.05). CD8+ T cell showed lower rates compared to the Control group, but showed no differences within the two OMH groups(F=1.254, ANOYA, p>0.05). CD4+/CD8+ showed higher rates in the two OMH groups compared to the control group which can be thought as a proof that OMH prevents depression of immune response(F=10.554, ANOVA, p<0.05). In this test 16 week-old rats were used, which can be considered as the middle and prime age of the human being. These rats were treated with OMH which ended up showing properties of mitigating degeneration of immune responses and maintaining T-cell rates within the blood. It was possible to study that OMH possesses the properties to increase immune responses.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.301-338
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• 2002

Morphological characters of sections Rhomboidales (four taxa) and Digitatae (seven taxa) of the subgen. Eucarex (genus Carex, Cyperaceae) were reexamined. The epidermal patterns of perigynium, achene and leaf were investigated by SEM and LM. Morphological characters such as length and width of stem, leaf, bract, spike, scale, perigynium and achene, and shape of cross-sectioned stem, spike, scale, apex of scale, perigynium, beak and base of perigynium, achene, hair present or absent in perigynium, number of involucre and epidermal pattern of perigynium, achene and leaf(shape of fundamental epidermal cell and cell wall, type of silica body, shape of beak epidermal cell and cell wall in perigynium, subsidiary cell shape, size and frequency of stomatal complex of leaf) were useful for the identification of the observed 11 taxa. According to the current study, examined 11 taxa of sections Rhomboidales and Digitatae were distinct from each other regarding by length of leaf, stem, pistillate scale and perigynium, shape and epidermal cell of perigynium beak. C. lanceolata and C. humilis have been confused due to similar morphological characters. C. lanceolata and C. humilis were distinct, however with respect to from length of stem, leaf ligule present or absent, shape of cross-sectioned stem, epidermal patterns of perigynium, achene and leaf. And C. lanceolata could be distinguished from C. pediformis by shape of perigynium and achene, shape of cross-sectioned of stem, epidermal pattern of perigynium, achene and leaf.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.85-91
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• 2007

Dlx3 is a homeodomain protein and is known to playa role in development and differentiation of many tissues. Deletion of four base pairs in DLX3 (NT3198) is causally related to tricho-dento-osseous (TDO) syndrome (OMIM # 190320), a genetic disorder manifested by taurodontism, hair abnormalities, and increased bone density in the cranium. Although the observed defects of TDO syndrome involves bone, little is known about the role of Dlx3 in bone remodeling process. In this study, we examined the effect of wild type DLX3 (wtDlx3) expression on osteoclast differentiation and compared it with that of 4-BP DEL DLX3 (TDO mtDlx3). To examine whether Dlx3 is expressed during RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation, RAW264.7 cells were cultured in the presence of receptor activator of nuclear factor-B ligand (RANKL). Dlx3 protein level increased slightly after RANKL treatment for 1 day and peaked when the fusion of prefusion osteoclasts actively progressed. When wtDlx3 and TDO mtDlx3 were overexpressed in RAW264.7 cells, they enhanced RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and the expression of osteoclast differentiation marker genes such as calcitonin receptor, vitronectin receptor and cathepsin K. Since osteoclast differentiation is critically regulated by the balance between RANKL and osteoprotegerin (OPG), we examined the effect of Dlx3 overexpression on expression of RANKL and OPG in C2C12 cells in the presence of bone morphogenetic protein 2. Overexpression of wtDlx3 enhanced RANKL mRNA expression while slightly suppressed OPG expression. However, TDO mtDlx3 did not exert significant effects. This result suggests that inability of TDO mtDlx3 to regulate expression of RANKL and OPG may contribute to increased bone density in TDO syndrome patients. Taken together, it is suggested that Dlx3 playa role as a positive regulator of osteoclast differentiation via up-regulation of osteoclast differentiation-associated genes in osteoclasts, as well as via increasing the ratio of RANKL to OPG in osteoblastic cells.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2004

Pilomatricoma is a benign soft tissue tumor of hair follicle origin. They occur most commonly in the head and neck region and are usually found in girls during the first two decades of life. Although malignant transformation has been described, it is exceedingly rare. The clinical presentation is typically that of an asymptomatic, superfical, solitary, firm mass that is often accompanied by a reddish-blue discoloration of the overlying skin. Histopathologically pilomatricoma are seen as epithelial islands embedded in a cellular stroma. The epithelial component consist of two main cell types : basaloid cells and ghost cells. Intracellular and stromal calcification is reported in many cases. Diagnosis is usually suspected based on palpation of a superficial, rock-hard mass and confirmed by histopathologic examination. Surgical excision is both curative and the treatment of choice. Recurrence is rare. In this case, the radiographs showed a dense calcification, measuring about 1cm diameter. So simple excision was peformed intraorally, and resultantly the lesion was proved to be a pilomatricoma by histological examination.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.119-125
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• 2007

Dlx3 is a homeodomain protein and is known to play a role in development and differentiation of many tissues. Deletion of four base pairs in DLX3 (NT3198) is causally related to tricho-dento-osseous (TDO) syndrome (OMIM #190320), a genetic disorder manifested by taurodontism, hair abnormalities, and increased bone density in the cranium. The molecular mechanisms that explain the phenotypic characteristics of TDO syndrome have not been clearly determined. In this study, we examined phenotypic characteristics of wild type DLX3(wtDlx3) and 4-BP DEL DLX3 (TDO mtDlx3) in C2C12 cells. To investigate how wtDlx3 and TDO mtDlx3 differentially regulate osteoblastic differentiation, reporter assays were performed by using luciferase reporters containing the promoters of alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein or osteocalcin. Both wtDlx3 and TDO mtDlx3 enhanced significantly all the reporter activities but the effect of mtDlx3 was much weaker than that of wtDlx3. In spite of these differences in reporter activity, electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that both wtDlx3 and TDO mtDlx3 formed similar amounts of DNA binding complexes with Dlx3 binding consensus sequence or with ALP promoter oligonucleotide bearing the Dlx3 binding core sequence. TDO mtDlx3 exhibits a longer half-life than wtDlx3 and it corresponds to PESTfind analysis result showing that potential PEST sequence was missed in carboxy terminal of TDO mtDlx3. In addition, co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated that TDO mtDlx3 binds to Msx2 more strongly than wtDlx3. Taken together, though TDO mtDlx3 acted as a weaker transcriptional activator than wtDlx3 in osteoblastic cells, there is possibility that during in vivo osteoblast differentiation TDO mtDlx3 may antagonize transcriptional repressor activity of Msx2 more effectively and for longer period than wtDlx3, resulting in enhancement of osteoblast differentiation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.227-253
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• 2003

Morphological characters of C. kobomugi, C. gibba, C. echinata. C. remotiuscula. C. maakii. C. curta, and C. loliacea of genus Carex were rexamined. The epidermal patterns of perigynium, achene and leaf were investigated using by a scanning electron microscope(SEM) and a light microscope(LM). Morphological characters. such as length and width of stem and leaf, sheath, bract, spike, scale, perigynium, beak of perigynium, length of spike peduncle, size, and frequency of stomatal complex of leaf, number of bract, shape of stem transection, scale and apex of scale, beak and base of perigynium, achene, epidermal cell and cell wall of perigynium, achene, leaf epidermal patterns (fundamental epidermal cell and cell wall, silica body, subsidiary cell), hair, papillae, prickle present/absent of perigynium and leaf were useful for the identification of observed seven taxa. Examined six taxa of section Macrocephalae, Gibbae, Stellulatae, Elongatae, Ovales, and Heleonates were distint from each other with respect of length and width stem, leaf, bract, perigynium, perigynium beak, lenght of spike peduncle, perigynium, and leaf. A key based on data was presented here.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.647-654
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• 2015

Energy homeostasis in our body system is maintained by balancing the intake and expenditure of energy. Excessive accumulation of fat by disrupting the balance system causes overweight and obesity, which are increasingly becoming global health concerns. Understanding the pathogenesis of obesity focused on studying the genes related to familial types of obesity. Recently, a rare human genetic disorder, ciliopathy, links the role for genes regulating structure and function of a cellular organelle, the primary cilium, to metabolic disorder, obesity and type II diabetes. Primary cilia are microtubule based hair-like membranous structures, lacking motility and functions such as sensing the environmental cues, and transducing extracellular signals within the cells. Interestingly, the subclass of ciliopathies, such as Bardet-Biedle and Alström syndrome, manifest obesity and type II diabetes in human and mouse model systems. Moreover, studies on genetic mouse model system indicate that more ciliary genes affect energy homeostasis through multiple regulatory steps such as central and peripheral actions of leptin and insulin. In this review, we discuss the latest findings in primary cilia and metabolic disorders, and propose the possible interaction between primary cilia and the leptin and insulin signal pathways which might enhance our understanding of the unambiguous link of a cell's antenna to obesity and type II diabetes.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.87-90
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• 2013

The potential role of topical valproate (VPA) in hair regrowth has been recently suggested. However, safety reports of VPA as a topical formulation are lacking. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated whether VPA causes skin irritation in humans. We first performed a cell viability test and showed that VPA did not exhibit toxicity toward HaCaT keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and RBL-3H mast cells. We then performed clinical patch test and skin irritation test through transdermal drug delivery with the help of microneedle rollers. No significant findings were obtained in the clinical patch test. In the skin irritation test, only 1 patient showed erythema at 1 hr, but the irritation reaction faded away within a few hours. Erythema and edema were not observed at 24 hr. We concluded that VPA has minimal potential to elicit skin irritation. Therefore, we consider that VPA can safely be applied to human skin.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.202-206
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• 2008

An 8-year-old, castrated male Shih-tzu was referred due to relapsing pododermatitis and generalized pruritus. On physical examination, right forepaw showed swelling and serosanguinous exudates from sinus tract on dorsal paw. There were no remarkable findings on complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry, and radiologic examination. On cytological examination of exudates from sinus tract, phagocyted bacteria and numerous degenerative neutrophils were noted. Results of deep skin scraping and plucking hair examination were unremarkable. Skin biopsy was performed and ruled out other skin diseases. Histopathology showed epidermal hyperplasia and diffuse mononuclear cell inflammation in dermal layer. Moreover, pyogranulomatous inflammation was demonstrated in subcutaneous layer. This case was clinically diagnosed as pododermatitis secondary to atopic dermatitis (AD). Clinical signs of pododermatitis were gradually improved following topical application of tacrolimus 0.1% ointment. This case report describes that tacrolimus ointment can be applicable for the treatment of refractory pododermatitis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.667-672
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• 2006

Tyrosinase is an enzyme that catalyzes the biosynthetic pathway of melanin pigments participating in the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes, and is widely distributed in nature. The inhibitory compounds of tyrosinase have been extensively used as a cosmetic agent with a skin-whitening effect. In this paper, several plant extracts were screened using Melan-a cells for the melanin biosynthesis inhibition activity, and Idesia polycarpa was selected. A melanin biosynthesis inhibitor was isolated from I. polycarpa fruits by activity-guided fractionation, and the inhibitor was identified as 6-hydroxy-2-[[[(1-hydroxy-6-oxo-2-cyclohexenl-yl)carbonyl]oxy]methyl]phenyl$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (idescrapin) by comparing it with reported spectral data. Idescarpin $(IC_{50}=8{\mu}g/ml)$ reduced melanin content compared with the vehicle. In addition, the inhibitory activity of idescarpin for melanin synthesis is mediated by decreasing tyrosinase protein rather than directly inhibiting the tyrosinase activity. These results suggest that idescarpin isolated from I. polycarpa fruits may be used as a skin-whitening agent.