• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.221-225
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• 2012

Zinc deficiency is known to be associated with insulin resistance in obese individuals. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on insulin resistance and metabolic risk factors in obese Korean women. Forty obese women (body mass index (BMI) ${\geq}25kg/m^2$) aged 19-28 years were recruited for this study. Twenty women of the study group took 30 mg/day of supplemental zinc as zinc gluconate for 8 weeks and 20 women of control group took placebo. Usual dietary zinc intake was estimated from 3-day diet records. Insulin resistances were measured using Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) indices, and insulin sensitivities Matsuda indices, which were calculated using oral glucose tolerance test data. Metabolic risk factors, such as waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and adipocyte hormones such as leptin, and adiponectin were also measured. At the beginning of study, dietary zinc averaged 7.31 mg/day and serum zinc averaged $12.98{\mu}mol/L$ in the study group. Zinc supplementation increased serum zinc by 15% and urinary zinc by 56% (P < 0.05). HOMA values tended to decrease and insulin sensitivity increased slightly in the study group, but not significantly so. BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, and adipocyte hormones did not change in either the study or control group. These results suggest that zinc status may not affect insulin resistance and metabolic risk factors in obese Korean women. Further research is required on a larger cohort with a longer follow-up to determine the effects of zinc status on insulin resistance and metabolic variables.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2004

The effects of herbal medicine on type 2 diabetic animal model were investigated. Herbal medicine were composed with the addition of Coicis Semen into Okchun-san (OCS). Commelinae Herba into Gangsim-tang (GST). Scrophulariae Radix into Hyunsamsunki-san (HSK). and Erythrinae Cortex into Yukmijihuang-hwan (YMH). We evaluated anti-hyperglycemic and body weight reduction activity in diabetic db/db mice. The experimental animals were divided into six groups. as control group and five sample groups. Each 200mg/kg/day of OCS, GST, HSK and YMH was administered with orally for 14days long. 5mg/kg/day of acarbose was administered with orally for 14days long. On day 14, OCS-treated db/db mice had significantly lower fasting blood glucose levels compared to control group(296±25.9 versus 593±16.4mg/dl. p<0.001). During the 2 h intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), all the sample groups were improved compared to control group but insignificantly. After 14days of extract treatment. body weight in control. YMH and acarbose groups were increased. but OCS. GST and HSK groups reduced. However. it did not significantly lower hemoglobin Alc(HbAlc) in blood of db/db mice. These result suggest that OCS could be effective on insulin-independent type 2 diabetes.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.9-14
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• 2011

Objective : Present study was carried out to investigate the effect of Gyungohkgo-gamibang extract on hair growth and protein expression in an alopecia model of C57BL/6 mice. Methods : Mice were divided into 3 experimental groups including normal (vehicle), Gyungohkgo-gamibang extract (YNS-10) and 5% minoxidil-treated group. The test materials were daily applied with 0.1 ml per mouse on shaved dorsal skin for 3 weeks. The hair growth was monitored by photograph at 5, 10, 15, 21 days after topical application. Then the changes of hair density and hair thickness in the hair-removed area were evaluated by phototrichogram using folliscope. Also the expression level of growth factors related to hair growth was measured by western blotting. Results : Application of minoxidil or YNS-10 stimulated the hair growth compared to vehicle treatment. Therefore hair density of minoxidil or YNS-10 application was increased about 200% and 210% more than in vehicle application on 14 day, respectively. And hair thickness of both minoxidil group and YNS-10 group was increased about 220% and 210 % more than in vehicle spreading on 14 day, respectively. Futhermore the protein expression of IGF-1 and VEGF were significantly up-regulated on 7 day in YNS-10 and minoxidil-spreaded group compared to vehicle-applied group. Conclusion : These data suggest that YNS-10 has potent stimulating activity on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice and potential usefulness as ingredients of hair tonic and hairrestore.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.717-724
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• 2020

Background: Malignant arrhythmias require drug therapy. However, most of the currently available antiarrhythmic drugs have significant side effects. Ginsenoside Rg2 exhibits excellent cardioprotective effects and appears to be a promising candidate for cardiovascular drug development. So far, the oral toxicity and antiarrhythmic effects of Rg2 have not been evaluated. Methods: Acute oral toxicity of Rg2 was assessed by the Limit Test method in mice. Subchronic oral toxicity was determined by repeated dose 28-day toxicity study in rats. Antiarrhythmic activities of Rg2 were evaluated in calcium chloride-induced arrhythmic rats. Antiarrhythmic mechanism of Rg2 was investigated in arrhythmic rats and H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Results: The results of toxicity studies indicated that Rg2 exhibited no single-dose (10 g/kg) acute oral toxicity. And 28-day repeated dose treatment with Rg2 (1.75, 3.5 and 5 g/kg/d) demonstrated minimal, if any, subchronic toxicity. Serum biochemical examination showed that total cholesterol in the high-dose cohort was dramatically decreased, whereas prothrombin time was increased at Day 28, suggesting that Rg2 might regulate lipid metabolism and have a potential anticoagulant effect. Moreover, pretreatment with Rg2 showed antiarrhythmic effects on the rat model of calcium chloride induced arrhythmia, in terms of the reduced duration time, mortality, and incidence of malignant arrhythmias. The antiarrhythmic mechanism of Rg2 might be the inhibition of calcium influx through L-type calcium channels by suppressing the phosphorylation of Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Conclusion: Our findings support the development of Rg2 as a promising antiarrhythmic drug with fewer side effects for clinical use.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.257-267
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• 2018

The present study aimed to evaluate the cinnamic acid effect on memory impairment, oxidative stress, and cholinergic dysfunction in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic model in mice. In this experimental study, 48 male Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice (30-35 g) were chosen and were randomly divided into six groups: control, cinnamic acid (20 mg/kg day, i.p.), diabetic, and cinnamic acid-treated diabetic (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg day, i.p.). Memory was impaired by administering an intraperitoneal STZ injection of 50 mg/kg. Cinnamic acid was injected for 40 days starting from the 21st day after confirming STZ-induced dementia to observe its therapeutic effect. Memory function was assessed using cross-arm maze, morris water maze and passive avoidance test. After the administration, biochemical parameters of oxidative stress and cholinergic function were estimated in the brain. Present data indicated that inducing STZ caused significant memory impairment, whereas administration of cinnamic acid caused significant and dose-dependent memory improvement. Assessment of brain homogenates indicated cholinergic dysfunction, increase in lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and decrease in glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities in the diabetic group compared to the control animals, whereas cinnamic acid administration ameliorated these indices in the diabetic mice. The present study demonstrated that cinnamic acid improves memory by reducing the oxidative stress and cholinergic dysfunction in the brain of diabetic mice.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.90-94
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• 2019

Objectives: Paclitaxel (PTX) as an anticancer drug used against solid cancers, possesses adverse reactions such as neuropathic pain which has confined its use. PTX-induced neuropathic pain is mediated via activation of oxidative stress. Berberine (BER), an isoquinoline phytochemical found in several plants, exerts strong antioxidant and painkilling properties. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate pain-relieving effect of BER in a mouse model of PTX-induced neuropathic pain. Methods: This study was done using 42 male albino mice that were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 7) as follow: Sham-operated (not treated with PTX), negative control group (PTX-treated mice receiving normal saline), BER 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg (PTX-treated mice receiving BER) and positive control group (PTX-treated mice receiving imipramine 10 mg/kg). Neuropathic pain was induced by intraperitoneal administration of four doses of PTX (2 mg/kg/day) on days 1, 3, 5 and 7. Then, on day 7, hot plate test was done to assess latency to heat to measure possible anti-neuropathic pain effect of BER. Results: Four doses of PTX 2 mg/kg/day induced neuropathy that was reduced by BER at all time-points (i.e. 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min) after injection (P < 0.001 in comparison to control). The statistical analysis of data showed significant differences between groups (P < 0.001 in comparison to negative control), at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after injection of BER 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg; in other words, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after BER administration, neuropathic pain was significantly reduced as compared to normal saline-treated mice. Conclusion: Altogether, our results showed that PTX could induce neuropathic pain as reflected by hyperalgesia and BER could alleviate PTX-induced thermal hyperalgesia.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.59.5-60
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• 2017

We present the relationship between vector magnetic field parameters and solar major flare occurrence rate. Based on this, we are developing a forecast model of major flare (M and X-class) occurrence rate within a day using hourly vector magnetic field data of Space-weather HMI Active Region Patch (SHARP) from May 2010 to April 2017. In order to reduce the projection effect, we use SHARP data whose longitudes are within ${\pm}60$ degrees. We consider six SHARP magnetic parameters (the total unsigned current helicity, the total photospheric magnetic free energy density, the total unsigned vertical current, the absolute value of the net current helicity, the sum of the net current emanating from each polarity, and the total unsigned magnetic flux) with high F-scores as useful predictors of flaring activity from Bobra and Couvidat (2015). We have considered two cases. In case 1, we have divided the data into two sets separated in chronological order. 75% of the data before a given day are used for setting up a flare model and 25% of the data after that day are used for test. In case 2, the data are divided into two sets every year in order to reduce the solar cycle (SC) phase effect. All magnetic parameters are divided into 100 groups to estimate the corresponding flare occurrence rates. The flare identification is determined by using LMSAL flare locations, giving more numbers of flares than the NGDC flare list. Major results are as follows. First, major flare occurrence rates are well correlated with six magnetic parameters. Second, the occurrence rate ranges from 0.001 to 1 for M and X-class flares. Third, the logarithmic values of flaring rates are well approximated by two linear equations with different slopes: steeper one at lower values and lower one at higher values. Fourth, the sum of the net current emanating from each polarity gives the minimum RMS error between observed flare rates and predicted ones. Fifth, the RMS error for case 2, which is taken to reduce SC phase effect, are smaller than those for case 1.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.686-694
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• 2015

Background Rosa damascena, a type of herb, has been used for wound healing in Eastern folk medicine. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of rose placenta from R. damascena in a full-thickness wound model in mice. Methods Sixty six-week-old C57BL/6N mice were used. Full-thickness wounds were made with an 8-mm diameter punch. Two wounds were made on each side of the back, and wounds were assigned randomly to the control and experimental groups. Rose placenta ($250{\mu}g$) was injected in the experimental group, and normal saline was injected in the control group. Wound sizes were measured with digital photography, and specimens were harvested. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to assess the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$), and CD31. Vessel density was measured. Quantitative analysis using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for EGF was performed. All evaluations were performed on postoperative days 0, 2, 4, 7, and 10. Statistical analyses were performed using the paired t-test. Results On days 4, 7, and 10, the wounds treated with rose placenta were significantly smaller. On day 2, VEGF and EGF expression increased in the experimental group. On days 7 and 10, TGF-${\beta}1$ expression decreased in the experimental group. On day 10, vessel density increased in the experimental group. The increase in EGF on day 2 was confirmed with ELISA. Conclusions Rose placenta was found to be associated with improved wound healing in a mouse full-thickness wound model via increased EGF release. Rose placenta may potentially be a novel drug candidate for enhancing wound healing.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.104-109
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of commercial Makgeolli on tumor growth in human gastric adenocarcinoma cells (AGS) in a xenograft cancer model, transplanted with AGS cells. Commercial Makgeolli was first dealcoholized by evaporation and used as the test sample. We detected a significant increase in the volume and weight of tumor in nude mice (induction) that were transplanted with AGS cells. Administration of $100mg/kg{\cdot}day$ group (ML), and $500mg/kg{\cdot}day$ group (MH) dealcoholized commercial Makgeolli significantly decreased tumor growth. In this study, 5-FU $18mg/kg{\cdot}day$ was used as a positive control for tumor growth inhibition. Additionally, determination of the body weight of both the groups revealed no side effects after the administration of dealcoholized commercial Makgeolli. Using the cell culture system, we also evaluated the effect of dealcoholized commercial Makgeolli on caspase-3/7 activity in the AGS cells. Treatment with dealcoholized commercial Makgeolli increased the activation of caspase-3/7 and the apoptotic markers in AGS cells in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, dealcoholized commercial Makgeolli can be used for cancer prevention.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.19-32
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• 1999

In this study, the trip characteristics of workers in the city are systematically analyzed. The trip behaviors and socioeconomic characteristics of workers are analyzed using Person Trip Survey Data of 1988 and 1992 in Taegu Metropolitan area. With the results of behavioral analyses, the daily travel pattern of workers is shown as one tour contained two trips and it is relatively simple and stable. Also the rate using the same mode in a day is Presented as high ratio. So, it can be explained that the choice of worker\`s first trip is fixed his/her travel mode for his/her daily travel mode. Based on these analyses, the mode choice model for workers is developed by applying the Multi-nominal Logit Model with the choice set of bus, taxi, and car. The explanatory variables of this model include sex, age, auto, travel time, and cost. Empirical tests of the model show encouraging results. After that, the temporal transferability of the model is examined by the Pairwise t-test and five indexes far the model of 1988 and 1992. The results of examination are satisfied with each significance level of the explanatory variables and five indexes. Therefore. it can be concluded that the temporal transferability of this model developed in this study is resonable.