• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.61-78
• /
• 2004

Objective : This study was undertaken to determine whether Gamibaegi-eum (BGU) in vitro and in vivo exerts a beneficial effect against cell injury induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the human intestine. Methods : Effects of BGU in vitro on cell injury were examined using Caco-2 cells, cultured human intestinal cell line. Exposure of cells to H₂O₂ induced increases in the loss of cell viability in a time and dose-dependent fashion. Results : BGU prevented H₂O₂-induced cell death and its effect was dose-dependent over a concentration range of 0.05­1%. H₂O₂-induced cell death was prevented by catalase, the hydrogen peroxide scavenger enzyme, and deferoxamine, the iron chelator. However, the potent antioxidant DPPD did not affect H₂O₂-induced cell death. H₂O₂ increased lipid peroxidation, which was inhibited by BGU and DPPD. H₂O₂ caused DNA damage in a dose-dependent manner, which was prevented by BGU, catalase, and deferoxamine, but not DPPD. BGU restored ATP depletion induced by H₂O₂. BGU inhibited generation of superoxide and H₂O₂ and scavenged directly H₂O₂. Oral administration of mepirizole in vivo at a dose of 200mg/kg resulted in ulcer lesions in the stomach and the proximal duodenum. Pretreatment of BGU(0.1%/kg, orally) and catalase (800Units/kg, i.v.) significantly decreased the size of ulcers. Mepirizole increased lipid peroxidation in the mucosa of the duodenum, suggesting an involvement of ROS. Pretreatment of BGU and catalase significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by mepirizole. Morphological studies showed that mepirizole treatment causes duodenal injury and its effect is prevented by BGU. Conclusion : These results indicate that BGU exerts a protective effect against cell injury in vitro and in vivo through antioxidant action. The present study suggests that BGU may playa therapeutic role in the treatment of human gastrointestinal diseases mediated by ROS.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.290-298
• /
• 2015

Starting in 2012, severe diebacks usually accompanied by abundant gum exudation have occurred on yuzu trees in Goheung-gun, Jeonnam Province, where severely affected trees were occasionally killed. On-farm surveys were conducted at 30 randomly-selected orchards located at Pungyang-myeon, Goheung-gun, and the resulting disease incidences were 18.5% and 39.6% for dieback and gumming symptoms, respectively. Black spots on branches and leaves also appeared on infected trees showing a typical dieback symptom. Morphological and molecular identifications of the isolated fungal organisms from lesions on the symptomatic leaves and branches revealed that they are identical to Phomopsis citri, known to cause gummosis. In order to find the reason for this sudden epidemic, we investigated the weather conditions that are exclusively distinct from previous years, hypothesizing that certain weather extremes might have caused the severe induction of pre-existing disease for yuzu. There were two extreme temperature drops beyond the yuzu's cold hardiness limit right after an abnormally-warm-temperature-rise during the winter of 2011-12, which could cause severe frost damage resulting in mechanical injuries and physiological weakness to the affected trees. Furthermore, there was an increased frequency of strong wind events, seven times in 2012 compared to only a few times in the previous years, that could also lead to extensive injuries on branches. In conclusion, we estimated that the possible damages by severe frost and frequent strong wind events during 2012 could cause the yuzu trees to be vulnerable to subsequent fungal infection by providing physical entries and increasing plant susceptibility to infections.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.90 no.4
• /
• pp.543-547
• /
• 2001

An fungus gnat, Bradysia agrestis in the family Sciaridae was collected from Pinus spp. seedlings. This pest is a newly recorded insect from P. thunbergii, P. rigida, P. rigitaeda, and P. densiflora seedling. Brief morphological characters, damage symptom, host plants associated with the B. agrestis were recored. Significant variation in damaged of Pinus spp. seedling was attributed to differences between pine species(P. thunbergii : 15.4-20.0%, P. rigida : 23.1-48.8%, and P. rigitaeda : 13.8-67.5%, respectively) and sowing times(May : P. densiflora, 0%; P. rigida, 0%, July : P. densiflora, 20.0%; P. rigida, 49.4%, respectively).

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.438-445
• /
• 2009

We investigated global gene expression from both mouse liver and mouse hepatic cell lines treated with acetaminophen (APAP) in order to compare in vivo and in vitro profiles and to assess the feasibility of the two systems. During our analyses of gene expression profiles, we picked up several down-regulated genes, such as the cytochrome P450 family 51 (Cyp51), sulfotransferase family cytosolic 1C member 2 (Sult1c2), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A synthase 1 (Hmgcs1), and several genes that were up-regulated by APAP, such as growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible 45 alpha (Gadd45a), transformation related protein 53 inducible nuclear protein 1 (Trp53inp1) and zinc finger protein 688 (Zfp688). For validation of gene function, synthesized short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) for these genes were transfected in a mouse hepatic cell line, BNL CL.2, for investigation of cell viability and mRNA expression level. We found that siRNA transfection of these genes induced down-regulation of respective mRNA expression and decreased cell viability. siRNA transfection for Cyp51 and others induced morphological alterations, such as membrane thickening and nuclear condensation. Taken together, siRNA transfection of these six genes decreased cell viability and induced alteration in cellular morphology, along with effective inhibition of respective mRNA, suggesting that these genes could be associated with APAP-induced toxicity. Furthermore, these genes may be used in the investigation of hepatotoxicity, for better understanding of its mechanism.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.9-15
• /
• 2006

Skeletal muscle injury occurs frequently in sports medicine and is the most general form of injury followed by physical impact. There are growth factors which conduct proliferation, differentiation, and synthesis of myogenic prodromal cells and regulate vascular generation for the continued survival of myocytes. The purpose of the present study was to confirm the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and electrical stimulation (ES) on muscle recovery processes according to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into 2 experimental groups and a controlled group. All animals had suffered from crush damage in the extensor digitorum longus for 30 seconds and were killed 1, 3, and 7 days after injury. 30 Hz and 1 mA impulsion for 15 minutes was applied to the EA experimental groups Zusanli (ST36) and Taichong (LR3) using electroacupuncture and the same stimulation was applied to the ES group using an electrical node. Hematoxyline-Eosin staining and VEGF immunohistochemistry were used to ascertain the resulting muscle recovery. There were few morphological differences between the EA and ES groups, and both groups were observed to have tendencies to decrease atrophy as time passed. In the controlled group, gradually diminishing atrophy could be observed, but their forms were mostly disheveled. There were few differences in VEGF expression between the EA and ES groups, and tendencies to have an increased quantity of VEGF with the lapse of time were observed in both groups. In the controlled group, a little VEGF expression could be observed merely 7 days after injury. In conclusion, EA and ES contributed to muscle recovery processes and could be used for the treatment of muscle injury.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.339-344
• /
• 2002

Recently, there has been an increase in the cosmetologic treatments on hair in Korea. To investigate the time when morphological characteristics of human scalp hair take mature form, hairs of 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 months, and of adult scalp hair were compared. Also, the physico-chemical effects of commonly used cosmetological treatments; hair-dryed, dye coated, stained and permanent waved scalp hairs were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Two year-old hair was similar to the adult hair, and all hairs received cosmetologic treatments except for coated hair showed various degree of deformation and damage. These results suggest that routinely used cosmetologic treatments may give harmful effects on hairs. More detailed studies in large scale may be necessary.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.109-118
• /
• 2006

The physicochemical properties of damaged hair by irradiation of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) have been investigated by using transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope. The range of irradiation of hair irradiated for expectative 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours with stimulated ultraviolet ray. The treated hairs showed characteristic morphological damage pattern in the cornified cell of matrix and the cuticle following time past. The various sized vacuoles in the endocuticle of the cuticular cells was formed. The statistically significant differences in diameter of cuticular cell were observed in terms of tranverse swelling by formation of vacuoles. The hair cortex and matrix undergo long term exposure to UV-B radiation. The macrofibrils of cortex appeared to be affected most by UV-B, although the morphology and volume of melanin granule was not changed. The physicochemical destruction of hair matrix and cuticular cells is largely accelerated by long term irradiation of UV-B.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.72-83
• /
• 2006

Objective : This study was designed to identify lipid protection formation in stratum corneum and anti-inflammatory effects of Sopungdojeok-tang(SD) on atopic dermatitis(AD). Materials and Methods : In Vivo, SD extract was orally administered to BALB/c mice at $2.5m{\ell}/kg/day$ for 2 days after 5% sodium dodecyl sulfate evoked atopic dermatitis in abdominal skin. Morphological changes were observed by immunohistochemical stain using monoclonal antibodies(BrdU, ceramide, MIP-2, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50, IL-4, and STAT6) and TUNEL method. In vitro, the alterations of IL-4 mRNA expression were detected by RT-PCT in SD extract treated EL4 cells after phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate and 4-tert-Octylphenol induce Th2 skewed condition. Results : SD is used in Oriental Medicine for its potential curative for atopic dermatitis. In this study, we have investigated the anti-inflammatory and lipid lamella repair effects of SD were investigated. SD decreased the number of eosinophil in atopic dermatitis induced mice. In the histological properties, the hyperplasia, edema, infiltration of lymphocytes, damage of intercellular space of stratum corneum, BrdU positive reacted cells in stratum basal, and degranulated mast cells and capillaries in dermal papillae decreased in mice with SD. Treatment of SD also decreased MIP-2, STAT6 and IL-4 in dermal papillae. The IL-4 mRNA expression decreased in a dose-dependant manner in SD treated EL4 cells. In addition, decrease of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50 and increase of apoptotic cells in dermis were observed in SD treated mice. These data suggest that SD may beneficial for atopic dermatitis. Conclusions : These data suggest that SD is beneficial in treatment of atopic dermatitis, and that SD provides lipid protection in stratum corneum and anti-inflammatory effects on atopic dermatitis.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2011.10a
• /
• pp.18.1-18.1
• /
• 2011

Some applications of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as field emitters, such as x-ray tubes and microwave amplifiers, require high current emission from a small emitter area. To emit the high current density, CNT emitters should be optimally fabricated in terms of material properties and morphological aspects including high crystallinity, aspect ratio, distribution density, height uniformity, adhesion on a substrate, low outgassing rate during electron emission in vacuum, etc. In particular, adhesion of emitters on the substrate is one of the most important parameters to be secured for high current field emission from CNTs. So, we attempted a novel approach to improve the adhesion of CNT emitters by incorporating metal oxide layers between CNT emitters. In our previous study, CNT emitters were fabricated on a metal mesh by filtrating the aqueous suspensions containing both highly crystalline thin multiwalled CNTs and thick entangled multiwalled CNTs. However, the adhesion of CNT film was not enough to produce a high emission current for an extended period of time even after adopting the metal mesh as a fixing substrate of the CNT film. While a high current was emitted, some part of the film was shown to delaminate. In order to strengthen the CNT networks, cobalt-nickel oxides were incorporated into the film. After coating the oxide layer, the CNT tips seemed to be more strongly adhered on the CNT bush. Without the oxide layer, the field emission voltage-current curve moved fast to a high voltage side as increasing the number of voltage sweeps. With the cobalt-nickel oxide incorporated, however, the curve does not move after the second voltage sweep. Such improvement of emission properties seemed to be attributed to stronger adhesion of the CNT film which was imparted by the cobalt-nickel oxide layer between CNT networks. Observed after field emission for an extended period of time, the CNT film with the oxide layer showed less damage on the surface caused by high current emission.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 2020

A serious leaf disease caused by Colletotrichum dematium was found during the cultivation of Sarcandra glabra in Jingxi, Rong'an, and Donglan Counties in Guangxi Province, which inflicted huge losses to plant productivity. Biological control gradually became an effective control method for plant pathogens. Many studies showed that the application of actinomycetes in biological control has been effective. Therefore, it may be of great significance to study the application of actinomycetes on controlling the diseases caused by S. glabra. Strains of antifungal actinomycetes capable of inhibiting C. dematium were identified, isolated and screened from healthy plants tissues and the rhizospheres in soils containing S. glabra. In this study, 15 actinomycetes strains were isolated and among these, strains JT-2F, DT-3F, and JJ-3F, appeared to show antagonistic effects against anthracnose of S. glabra. The strains JT-2F and DT-3F were isolated from soil, while JJ-3F was isolated from plant stems. The antagonism rate of strain JT-2F was 86.75%, which was the highest value among the three strains. Additionally, the JT-2F strain also had the strongest antagonistic activity when the antagonistic activities were tested against seven plant pathogens. Strain JT-2F is able to produce proteases and cellulase to degrade the protein and cellulose components of cell walls of C. dematium, respectively. This results in mycelia damage which leads to inhibition of the growth of C. dematium. Strain JT-2F was identified as Streptomyces tsukiyonensis based on morphological traits and 16S rDNA sequence analysis.