• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.119-131
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• 1998

It has been reported that the glycoprotein extracted from Aloe has strong anti-inflammatory response. However, there has been no research report yet about the effect of Aloe on allergic hypersensitivity reactivity. By using guinea pig lung mast cells, this study aimed to examine the effects of Aloe glycoprotein (NY945) on the mediator releases caused by mast cell activation, and also aimed to assess the effects of NY945 on the mechanism of mediator releases in the mast cell activation. We partially purified mast cell from guinea pig lung tissues by using the enzyme digestion, the rough and the discontinuous density percoll gradient method. Mast cells were sensitized with IgG1 (anti-OA) and challenged with ovalbumin. Histamine was assayed by fluorometric analyzer, leukotrienes by radioimmunoassay. The phospholipase D activity was assessed by the production of labeled phosphatidylalcohol. The amount of mass 1, 2-diacylglycerol (DAG) was measured by the $[^3H]DAG$ produced when prelabeled with $[^3H]myristic$ acid. The phospholipid methylation was assessed by measuring the incorporation of the $[^3H]methyl$ moiety into phospholipids of cellular membranes. Pretreatment of NY945 (10 ${\mu}g$) significantly decreased histamine and leukotrienes releases during mast cell activation. The decrease of histamine release was stronger than that of leukotriene during mast cell activation. The phospholipase D activity increased by the mast cell activation was decreased by the dose-dependent manner in the pretreatment of NY945. The amount of DAG produced by PLC activity was decreased by NY945 pretreatment. The amount of mass 1, 2-diacylglycerol produced by activation of mast cells was decreased in the pretreatment of NY945. NY945 pretreatment strongly inhibited the incorporation of the $[^3H]methyl$ moiety into phospholipids. The data suggest that NY945 purified from Aloe inhibits in part an increase of 1, 2-diacylglycerol which is produced by activating mast cells with antigen-antibody reactions, which is mediated via phosphatidylcholine-phospholipase D and phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C systems, and then followed by the inhibition of histamine release. Furthermore, NY945 reduces the production of phosphatidylcholine by inhibiting the methyltransferase I and II, which decreases the conversion of phosphatidylcholine into arachidonic acid and inhibits the production of leukotrienes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.157-162
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• 2011

Purpose: Exaggerated pro-inflammatory reactions during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD) suggest the role of immune dysregulation in the pathogenesis of KD. We investigated the profiles of T regulatory cells and their correlation with the clinical course of KD. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from 17 KD patients during acute febrile and subacute afebrile phases. T cells expressing CD4, CD25, and Foxp3 were analyzed using flow cytometry, and the results were correlated with the clinical course of KD. Results: The percentage of circulating $CD4^+CD25^{high}Foxp3^+$ T cells among $CD4^+$ T cells was Significantly higher during the subacute afebrile phase than during the acute febrile phase ($1.10%{\pm}1.22%$ vs. $0.55%{\pm}0.53%$, P=0.049). Although levels of $CD4^+CD25^{low}Foxp3^+$ T cells and $CD4^+CD25^-Foxp3^+$ T cells were only slightly altered, the percentage of $CD4^+CD25^+Foxp3^-$ T cells among $CD4^+$ T cells was significantly lower during the subacute afebrile phase than during the acute febrile phase ($2.96%{\pm}1.95%$ vs. $5.64%{\pm}5.69%$, P=0.036). Consequently, the ratio of $CD25^{high}Foxp3^+$ T cells to $CD25^+Foxp3^-$ T cells was higher during the subacute afebrile phase than during the acute febrile phase ($0.45%{\pm}0.57%$ vs. $0.13%{\pm}0.13%$, P=0.038). Conclusion: Decreased $CD4^+CD25^{high}Foxp3^+$ T cells and/or an imbalanced ratio of $CD4^+CD25^{high}Foxp3^+$ T cells to $CD4^+CD25^+Foxp3^-$ T cells might playa role in KD development. Considering that all KD patients were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), recovery of $CD4^+CD25^{high}Foxp3^+$ T cells during the subacute afebrile phase could be a mechanism of IVIG.

• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.18.1-18.7
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• 2013

Inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by immune cell infiltration and cytokine secretion. In particular, mast cells and their cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Korean medicine, BaekJeol-Tang (BT) was designed by traditional Korean medicine theory. We already reported therapeutic effect of BT in rheumatoid arthritis. Here, we report the specific underlying mechanism of BT in activated human mast cells, HMC-1 cells. In addition, we report for the first time that BT significantly inhibited the production and mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines including thymic stromal lymphopoietin, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in activated HMC-1 cells. BT also decreased the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$, and caspapase-1. Taken together, these results indicate that BT has potential as a regulator of inflammatory reactions for the treatment of arthritis such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2009

Curcumin is a major active component of the food flovour tumeric. It has been used for the treatment of many diseases such as inflammatory and infectious diseases, cancer and other disease due to its antioxidant properties. Curcumin is a powerful scavenger of many free radicals such as superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide. The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidative effects of curcumin against hydrogen peroxide on semen quality during in vitro storage of boar semen. The sperm treated with different concentration of curcumin (1, 5 and 10 ${\mu}M$) in the presence or absence of hydrogen peroxide (250 ${\mu}M\;H_2O_2$) were incubated for 3, 6 and 9 hr at $37^{\circ}C$ and analyzed sperm characteristics such as motility, membrane integrity (MI), lipid peroxidation (LPO), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA fragmentation (DF). The sperm motility and MI in $H_2O_2$ treated group ($47.8%{\pm}6.8$ and $24.8%{\pm}2.2$) were significantly decreased when compare to curcumin treated group ($79.8%{\pm}2.7$ and $34.6%{\pm}1.0$, respectively) irrespective of incubation periods(p<0.05). The LPO of spermatozoal plasma membrane was measured by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactions for malondialdehyde (MDA), MDA level in control ($11.6{\pm}0.6\;nmol/L{\times}10^6$) and curcumin groups ($10.7{\pm}0.3\;nmol/L{\times}10^6$) were lower than those of curcumin plus $H_2O_2$ ($17.1{\pm}0.8\;nmol/L{\times}10^6$) or $H_2O_2$ group ($22.5{\pm}1.9\;nmol/L{\times}10^6$) from 3 to 9 hr incubation periods. The DF by sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test and ROS production measured by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) fluorescence intensity were no significantly difference through all experimental groups (p>0.05). Correlation among evaluation methods for sperm quality, motility vs MI and DF vs ROS was positively correlated while motility vs DF and ROS vs LPO were negatively correlated in all treatment groups. These results demonstrate that curcumin can effectively improve the sperm quality during in vitro storage of boar semen through its hydrogen peroxide scavenging mechanism as an antioxidant.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.41
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• pp.47.1-47.10
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• 2019

Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA) has been applied as a primary biomaterial for temporary soft tissue augmentation and as a carrier for cells and the delivery of growth factors to promote tissue regeneration. Although HA derivatives are the most versatile soft tissue fillers on the market, they are resorbed early, within 3 to 12 months. To overcome their short duration, they can be combined with cells or growth factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the stimulating effects of human fibroblasts and basic fibroblast growth factors (bFGF) on collagen synthesis during soft tissue augmentation by HA hydrogels and to compare these with the effects of a commercial HA derivative (Restylane^®). Methods: The hydrogel group included four conditions. The first condition consisted of hydrogel (H) alone as a negative control, and the other three conditions were bFGF-containing hydrogel (HB), human fibroblast-containing hydrogel (HF), and human fibroblast/bFGF-containing hydrogel (HBF). In the Restylane^® group (HGF), the hydrogel was replaced with Restylane^® (R, RB, RF, RBF). The gels were implanted subdermally into the back of each nude mouse at four separate sites. Twelve nude mice were used for the hydrogel (n = 6) and Restylane^® groups (n = 6). The specimens were harvested 8 weeks after implantation and assessed histomorphometrically, and collagen synthesis was evaluated by RT-PCR. Results: The hydrogel group showed good biocompatibility with the surrounding tissues and stimulated the formation of a fibrous matrix. HBF and HF showed significantly higher soft tissue synthesis compared to H (p < 0.05), and human collagen type I was well expressed in HB, HF, and HBF; HBF showed the strongest expression. The Restylane^® filler was surrounded by a fibrous capsule without any soft tissue infiltration from the neighboring tissue, and collagen synthesis within the Restylane^® filler could not be observed, even though no inflammatory reactions were observed. Conclusion: This study revealed that HA-based hydrogel alone or hydrogel combined with fibroblasts and/or bFGF can be effectively used for soft tissue augmentation.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 2003

Chemical burns onto oral mucosa which are infrequent, may result from contact with a wide variety of chemical agents. The degree of injury depends on the chemical, its concentration, duration of contact, and the natural penetrability and resistance of the tissues involved. Chemicals do not usually "burn" in that they do not cause destruction by hyperthermic activity. Rather, they damage tissue by causing coagulation of protein by one of several processes, reduction, oxidation, desiccation, corrosion, or vesication. Paraquat(Gramoxon) is the most frequently agricultural chemicals that induce the severe toxic reactions onto the organs of human body in Korea. The toxic reaction are composed of pulmonary edema and fibrosis, formation of hyaline membrane, inflammatory reaction and bleeding tendency, owing to the cell damage by the production of superoxide radicals. The contents of essential treatment in paraquat intoxication are commonly airway and breathing maintenance, gastric lavage, much hydration and diuresis, hemoperfusion and medications for the removal of the chemicals and the prevention of various complications. The sedative oral dressings, such as, orabase ointment application, warm saline gargling, lidocaine viscous gargling and oral gargling by the mixed solutions(tetracycline, prednisolone and 10% dextrose water) are important for the improvement of chemical oral mucositis and the comfortable feeding of diet. The authors managed properly two cases of oral chemical mucositis that were occurred by the incorrect use of agricultural chemicals(paraquat) and report the cases with the review of literatures about care of the chemical intoxication and oral mucositis.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.23 no.4 s.43
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• pp.503-527
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• 1993

This paper describes a new method to create an animal model for TMJ internal derangement in the New Zealand white rabbits and the light and electron microscopical changes of posterior attachment of them. Twenty six rabbits(2.5-3.0kg), four normal and twenty two experimental, were used. The right disc of experimental animal was displaced anteriorly without sectioning the posterior attachment and tied to the zygomatic arch with nylon not to be reduced to the original position. The left TMJ was sham-operated to be compared with its right experimental one. Normal animals were sacrificed one day and eight weeks after experiment. Experimental animals were sacrificed one day, ten days, three weeks, five weeks and eight weeks after surgery respectively. They were fixed intravenously with $2\%$ glutaldehyde under general anesthesia and the samples of them were processed for light and electron microscopic examination. The purpose of this experiment is to make a suitable animal model of disc displacement without reduction for studying and understanding the cellular and morphologic events in posterior attachment of TMJ including early changes which were difficult to be observed in human TMJs. The results of this investigation suggest the following conclusions : 1. Authors induced anterior disc displacement surgically in rabbits with new method to examine histologic changes of posterior attachment. Tissue reactions of this model seem to be similar to those observed in human disc displacement. We think this animal model for anterior disc displacement may be used to explore and evaluate objectively the effects of many treatment modalities in disc displacements. 2. The animal disease model showed inflammation at early stage(one and ten days). At this stage there were mild-to-severe mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration, numerous newly formed vessels, vessel dilatation and engormement and many fibroblasts. 3. At middle stage(three weeks), fibrosis occurred, where fibroblasts decreased in number, but their cytoplasm was profuse indicating high activity. Collagen fibers increased in number and the tissue looked more dense. 4. At late stage(five weeks and eight weeks) showed degenerative changes including perforation of posterior attachment, disintegration of collagen fiber bundles, degeneration of fibroblasts, metastatic ossification, and dystrophic calcification.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.308-313
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• 2007

Background: The nitric oxide (NO) released by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of sepsis. Corticosteroids also play a role in the hemodynamic and inflammatory reactions in sepsis. Both have been shown to have a relationship theoretically, but their correlation and clinical impacts have rarely been evaluated. Methods: 26 patients with sepsis and 14 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The initial random plasma total NO and the serum cortisol levels were measured. The same measurements were serially carried out on the $3^{rd}$, $5^{th}$, and $7^{th}$ days. Results: The initial total plasma levels of NO and cortisol were higher in the patients with sepsis than in the healthy controls. The total NO levels were higher in patients with severe sepsis than in the those with mild sepsis. There was a correlation between the total NO and cortisol level throughout the study. Conclusion: In patients with sepsis, the levels of plasma NO and cortisol were well correlated during the first week of sepsis, which suggests an interrelationship. However, the clinical and pathogenetic implications await further evaluation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2010

Purpose : Adiponectin is an endogenous modulator of vascular remodeling that suppresses vascular inflammation. However, the role of adiponectin in Kawasaki disease (KD) has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between serum adiponectin level and several parameters, such as interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, lipid profile, and C reactive protein (CRP), and to clarify the association between adiponectin and cardiac function. Methods : Twenty-two KD patients (22 patients in acute phase and 20 patients in subacute phase) were enrolled in the study group. The control group consisted of 31 subjects (13 febrile patients and 18 healthy children). Both groups underwent blood sampling and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Results : CRP was significantly increased in the KD group compared with the control group. There were no significant differences in serum $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and adiponectin levels between groups. However, a negative correlation was found between adiponectin level and CRP level or platelet count. Systolic myocardial velocity and A myocardial velocity measured by TDI were decreased significantly in the acute KD group compared with the subacute KD group and control group. Positive correlations were found between adiponectin level and systolic myocardial velocity or A myocardial velocity. Conclusion : In acute KD patients, low adiponectin level was related to severe inflammatory reactions and decreased left ventricular functions.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.373-379
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• 2011

Purpose: 4-1BB (CD 137) is a costimulatory molecule expressed on activated T-cells. Repression by 4-1BB is thought to attenuate Th2-mediated allergic reactions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 4-1BB on allergic airway inflammation in a murine asthma model. Methods: BALB/c mice were sensitized to and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA). Hu.4-1BB-Fc was administered 1 day before the first OVA sensitization or 1 day after the second OVA sensitization. Following antigen challenge, airway responsiveness to methacholine was assessed and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was analyzed. Total immunoglobulin (Ig) E, OVA-specific IgE, $IgG_1$, and $IgG_{2a}$ levels in sera were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Lung pathology was also evaluated. Results: In mice treated with Hu.4-1BB-Fc before the first OVA sensitization, there was a marked decrease in airway hyperresponsiveness, total cell count, and eosinophil count in the BAL fluid. In addition, Hu.4-1BB-Fc treatment decreased serum OVA-specific $IgG_1$ levels and increased serum $IgG_{2a}$ level significantly compared with the corresponding levels in mice sensitized to and challenged with OVA. Hu.4-1BB-Fc-treated mice also showed suppressed peribronchial and perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration. In contrast, treatment with Hu.4-1BB-Fc 1 day after sensitization had no effect on airway hyperresponsiveness and showed less suppression of inflammation in lung tissue. Conclusion: Administration of Hu.4-1BB-Fc can attenuate airway inflammation and hyperreactivity in a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation. In addition, administration before sensitization may be more effective. These findings suggest that 4-1BB may be a useful therapeutic molecule against asthma.