• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.281-289
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• 2004

Objective : Blepharoptosis is drooping of eyelid which causes impairment of visual field by covering partially or completely, and it is classified into congenital ptosis and acquired one. In western medicine, idiopathic blepharoptosis is usually treated by tarsectomy. Contrary to that concept, we consider eyelid is assigned to Yookryoon(肉輪) among Ohryoon(五輪) which matches to spleen. In oriental medicine, it can be treated by promoting spleen and kidney. Here I report two cases of idiopathic blepharoptosis improved by conservative acupuncture therapy and herb medicine. Methods : The changes in clinical symptoms of general body weakness, anorexia, dizziness, dry eye, etc, in degree of eyelid drooping and in individual expression were described as they were treated with acupuncture therapy, herb medicine, Bojoong-ikgi-tang(補中益氣湯) and some physical therapy including Negative, I.C.T, S.S.P and Carbon. Results : Symptoms(ex) general body weakness, anorexia, dizziness, dry eye, etc) at admission improved and disappeared gradually with acupuncture therapy and herb medicine. The patients could discharge with favorable recovery. Conclusions : In oriental medicine, blepharoptosis is mainly treated by promoting Qihyul(氣血) and enhancing flow of that. If the patient has deficiency of Suhnchun-poomboo(先天稟褓賦) and Mungmoon-hwa(命門火), he is treated by promoting Shin-yang(腎陽). If he is weak in Bee-qi(脾氣), he needs to be treated by strengthening Bee-yang(脾陽) where patient with lack of Ganhyul(肝血) is supposed to be treated by promoting Hyul(血). These following two cases were managed by acupuncture, herb medicine and physical therapy on idiopathic blepharoptosis.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.133-140
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• 2007

Background: It is well established that cross talk between natural killer (NK) cells and myeloid dendritic cells (DC) leads to NK cell activation and DC maturation. In the present study, we investigated whether type 1-polarized DC (DC1) matured in the presence of IFN-${\gamma}$ and type 2-polarized DC (DC2) matured in the presence of PGE2 can differentially activate NK cells. Methods: In order to generate DC, plastic adherent monocytes were cultured in RPMI 1640 containing GM-CSF and IL-4. At day 6, maturation was induced by culturing the cells for 2 days with cytokines or PGE2 in the presence or absence of LPS. Each population of DC was cocultured with NK cells for 24 h. The antigen expression on DC was analyzed by flow cytometry and cytokine production in culture supernatant was measured by ELISA or a bioassay for TNF-${\alpha}$ determination. NK cell-mediated lysis was determined using a standard 4h chromium release assay. Results: DC2, unlike DC1, had weak, if any, ability to induce NK cell activation as measured by IFN-${\gamma}$ production and cytolytic activity. DC2 were weakly stimulated by activated NK cells compared to DC1. In addition, IFN-${\gamma}$-primed mature DC appeared to be most resistant to active NK cell-mediated lysis even at a high NK cell/DC ratio. On the other hand, PGE2-primed DC were less resistant to feedback regulation by NK cells than IFN-${\gamma}$-primed mature DC. Finally, we showed that the differential effect of two types of DC population on NK cell activity is not due to differences in their ability to form conjugates with NK cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that different combinations of inflammatory mediators differentially affect the effector function of DC and, as a result, the function of NK cells, eventually leading to distinct levels of activation in adaptive immunity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.309-318
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• 2015

Alcohol consumption increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, its effects on prediabetes or early diabetes have not been studied. We investigated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the pancreas and liver resulting from chronic alcohol consumption in the prediabetes and early stages of diabetes. We separated Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, a type-2 diabetic animal model, into two groups based on diabetic stage: prediabetes and early diabetes were defined as occurrence between the ages of 11 to 16 weeks and 17 to 22 weeks, respectively. The experimental group received an ethanol-containing liquid diet for 6 weeks. An intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test was conducted after 16 and 22 weeks for the prediabetic and early diabetes groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in body weight between the control and ethanol groups. Fasting and 120-min glucose levels were lower and higher, respectively, in the ethanol group than in the control group. In prediabetes rats, alcohol induced significant expression of ER stress markers in the pancreas; however, alcohol did not affect the liver. In early diabetes rats, alcohol significantly increased most ER stress-marker levels in both the pancreas and liver. These results indicate that chronic alcohol consumption increased the risk of diabetes in prediabetic and early diabetic OLETF rats; the pancreas was more susceptible to damage than was the liver in the early diabetic stages, and the adaptive and proapoptotic pathway of ER stress may play key roles in the development and progression of diabetes affected by chronic alcohol ingestion.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.607-613
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of either chrysin or exercise on the inflammasome and thermogenic markers in the livers of high-fat fed mice. C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to four groups: normal diet control (NC; n=5), high-fat diet control (HC; n=5), high-fat diet with chrysin (Hch; n=5), and high-fat diet with moderate exercise (HME; n=5). The mice were fed a high-fat diet (60% of calories from fat) or normal diet (18% of calories from fat). Chrysin was supplemented orally as 50mg/kg/day dissolved in a 0.1ml solution of dimethyl sulfoxide. The exercised mice ran on a treadmill at 12-20 m/min for 30-60 min/day, 5 times/week, for 16 weeks. After the intervention, the epididymal fat and liver weights were significantly decreased in the HME group compared with HC and Hch groups. The adipocyte size was effectively decreased in the Hch and HME groups compared with the HC group. The inflammasome markers NLRP3, $IL-1{\beta}$, and caspase1 were significantly decreased in the Hch and HME groups compared with the HC group. The thermogenic markers $PGC-1{\alpha}$ and BMP7 were significantly lower in the HC than in the NC group. However, the HME group showed an increase in the thermogenic markers. In conclusion, chrysin and moderate exercise have positive effects on obese metabolic complications induced by high-fat diets by reducing inflammasome genes. However, chrysin supplementation had no effect on thermogenic gene expression. Moderate exercise would therefore seem to be more effective in controlling obesity-induced metabolic deregulation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.19-28
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• 2018

Objectives : Epimedii Herba has been frequently used in Korean Traditional Medicine to treat impotence, spermatorrhoea, exophthalmos, and forgetfulness. Present study investigated anti-inflammatory effects of Epimedii Herba water extract (EWE) and attempted to elucidate molecular mechanisms involved. Methods : To explore anti-inflammatory effects of EWE, RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line, were pretreated with $10-100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of EWE, and then subsequently exposed to $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Levels of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6, $interleukin-1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ were monitored in the medium. Expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 were determined by immunoblot and real-time PCR analyses. Signaling pathways related with nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) and mitogen-activated protein kinases were monitored to elucidate molecular mechanisms involved. Finally, the role of three flavonoid compounds in EWE on LPS-mediated NO production were investigated. Results : In conditioned medium, pretreatment of EWE ($100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated NO and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. In addition, EWE attenuated the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 by LPS. EWE prevented the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitory ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$, nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$, and DNA binding of $NF-{\kappa}B$, while EWE did not change the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases by LPS. Moreover, icariin, icaritin, and quercetin partly, but significantly, inhibited the LPS-stimulated NO production. Conclusions : These results suggest that EWE has an ability to prevent inflammation in macrophages through inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathway.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.109-127
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• 2023

Objectives : It was conducted to experimentally analyze the effects of acupuncture treatment at CV12, ST25, and ST36 on weight, FBCS, fat metabolism, microbiome, and metabolome changes in the general diet rat and the high-fat diet rat. Methods : It was classified into four groups: general diet & non-treatment group (ND), general diet & acupuncture treatment group (ND+AT), high-fat diet & non-treatment group (HFD), and high-fat diet & acupuncture treatment group (HFD-AT). After acupuncture treatment was performed on CV12, ST25, and ST36, changes in body weight, FBCS, fat metabolism, microbiome, and metabolome were analyzed. Results : Compared to the ND group, acupuncture treatment performed on CV12, ST25, and ST36 in the ND+AT group had no significant effect. Compared to the HFD group, CV12, ST25, and ST36 acupuncture in the HFD+AT group reduced weight, fat weight, inflammatory cytokine IL-6 expression, and lipid droplet accumulation in liver tissue. Acupuncture can promote fat metabolism and relieve inflammatory conditions. Differences in diversity between ND and HFD groups were clear in changes in microbiome, fecal metabolites, and serum metabolites. As a result of some microbiome and metabolites involved in fat decomposition, intestinal lipid absorption, and blood lipid concentration control, such as Intestinimonas, Ruminococcus 1, pyroglutamic acid, tryptophan, and inositol, it was observed that the acupuncture treatment effect was evident in the disease-induced imbalance. Conclusions : Acupuncture treatment performed on CV12, ST25, ST36 clearly observed various regulatory actions on obesity induced by high-fat diet, confirming that the action of acupuncture treatment mainly plays a role in controlling an unbalanced state.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.547-561
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• 2024

In this study, we aim to investigate the precise alterations in the gut microbiota during the onset and advancement of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and examine the impact of Ruminococcus gnavus (R. gnavus) on DN. Eight-week-old male KK-Ay mice were administered antibiotic cocktails for a duration of two weeks, followed by oral administration of R. gnavus for an additional eight weeks. Our study revealed significant changes in the gut microbiota during both the initiation and progression of DN. Specifically, we observed a notable increase in the abundance of Clostridia at the class level, higher levels of Lachnospirales and Oscillospirales at the order level, and a marked decrease in Clostridia_UCG-014 in DN group. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the abundance of Lachnospiraceae, Oscillospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae at the family level. Moreover, oral administration of R. gnavus effectively aggravated kidney pathology in DN mice, accompanied by elevated levels of urea nitrogen (UN), creatinine (Cr), and urine protein. Furthermore, R. gnavus administration resulted in down-regulation of tight junction proteins such as Claudin-1, Occludin, and ZO-1, as well as increased levels of uremic toxins in urine and serum samples. Additionally, our study demonstrated that orally administered R. gnavus up-regulated the expression of inflammatory factors, including nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and Interleukin (IL)-6. These changes indicated the involvement of the gut-kidney axis in DN, and R. gnavus may worsen diabetic nephropathy by affecting uremic toxin levels and promoting inflammation in DN.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.91-103
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• 2003

Background : Histamine is widely distributed in the lung. It increases capillary permeability and the P-selectin expression on vascular endothelial cell surfaces. We studied the role of endogenous histamine on the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats. Methods: We instilled either normal saline (control group) or lipopolysaccharide (3 mg/Kg, LPS group) to tracheas of Sprague-Dawley rats. H1-receptor blocker (mepyramine, 10 mg/Kg, H1RB group), H2-receptor blocker (ranitidine, 10 mg/Kg, H2RB group), and H3-receptor blocker (thioperamide, 2 mg/Kg, H3RB group) were administered through vein or peritoneum along with intratracheal LPS administration. Statistical significance was accepted at p<0.05. Results : LPS increases the histamine level in BAL fluid significantly at 2 h after the treatment compared with control group. LPS significantly increases protein concentration, PMN cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the lung tissue at 6 h compared to control group. PMN cell count in BAL fluid and MPO activity in lung tissue were significantly lower in H2RB-group compared to LPS-group. However, protein concentration in BAL fluid showed no significant differences between the LPS alone and LPS with histamine receptor blockade. Conclusions : Endogenous histamine might be involved in the recruitment of PMNs in LPS-induced ALI via H2 receptor. However, its role in ALI would not be significant in this model.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 2022

Regulation of the hair follicle cycle in association with dermal papilla cells is one of the most interesting targets for promoting hair regrowth. In this study, we examined whether steam-dried Betula platyphylla extracts (BPE) promote hair growth by upregulating in vitro and in vivo responses of dermal papilla cells. The data showed that BPE3 contained high amounts of phenolic compounds with higher antioxidant effects and increased hair growth-related genes, including fibroblast growth factor7 and Wnt7b, in dermal papilla cells. Notably, BPE3 effectively enhanced the formation of hair follicles by increasing FGF7, Wnt7b, and vascular endothelial growth factor in C57BL/6N dorsal skins. Additionally, BPE3 significantly decreased the expression of inflammatory repertoires, inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin-6, and cyclooxygenase 2. Several small molecules, such as betulin and unsaturated fatty acids, support the pharmacological activity of BPE3. In conclusion, BPE3 effectively promoted hair growth by activating dermal papilla cells and enhancing hair follicle cycles by attenuating the inflammatory environment in the scalp.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.651-663
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• 2016

Corn silk, Job's tears, Lentinus edodes, and apple peel 70% ethanol extracts (CS, JT, LE, and AP) were studied for their antioxidant activities. CS among all extracts showed the highest antioxidant activities based on total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, 2,2-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) radical scavenging activity, and reducing power. Adipocyte differentiation was investigated by Oil Red O staining assay using CS, JT, LE, AP, and extract of developed bread containing corn silk, Job's tears, Lentinus edodes, and apple peel (DB) treated to 3T3-L1 adipocytes. DB1 and DB2 showed anti-adipogenic and antioxidant effects. Triglyceride (TG) accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells was measured, and among the samples tested (CS, JT, LE, and AP), CS was found to have the highest inhibitory activity against TG accumulation of differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and regulated factors associated with adipogenesis. CS suppressed lipid droplet formation and adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. We examined the effects of CS on the levels of CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein ${\beta}(C/EBP{\beta})$, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\gamma}(PPAR{\gamma})$, and adipocyte-specific lipid binding protein (aP2) mRNA as well as protein levels in 3T3-L1 cells treated with CS at various concentrations (0, 10, 50, and $100{\mu}g/mL$) during adipocyte differentiation and treatment with CS in 3T3-L1 adipocytes down-regulated expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and aP2 mRNA. CS also significantly inhibited up-regulation of $C/EBP{\beta}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$, and aP2 proteins during adipocyte differentiation. These data indicate that DBs have anti-adipogenic activity induced by CS in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and CS exerts anti-adipogenic activity by inhibiting expression of $C/EBP{\beta}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$, and aP2 signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. JT, LE, and AP had no inhibitory effects on differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes but displayed strong antioxidant effects. These results suggest that the developed bread may be a health beneficial food that can prevent or treat obesity and diseases induced by oxidative stress.