• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.167-174
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• 2012

Natural killer (NK) cells provide one of the initial barriers of cellular host defense against pathogens, in particular intracellular pathogens. Because bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), lymphoid protenitors, can give rise to NK cells, NK ontogeny has been considered to be exclusively lymphoid. Here, we show that porcine c-$kit^+$ bone marrow cells (c-$kit^+$ BM cells) develop into NK cells in vitro in the presence of various cytokines [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-7, IL-15, IL-21, stem cell factor (SCF), and fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 ligand (FLT3L)]. Adding hydrocortisone (HDC) and stromal cells greatly increases the frequency of c-$kit^+$ BM cells that give rise to $CD2^+CD8^+$ NK cells. Also, intracellular levels of perforin, granzyme B, and NKG2D were determined by RT-PCR and western blotting analysis. It was found that of perforin, granzyme B, and NKG2D levels significantly were increased in cytokine-stimulated c-$kit^+$ BM cells than those of controls. And, we compared the ability of the cytotoxicity of $CD2^+CD8^+$ NK cells differentiated by cytokines from c-$kit^+$ BM cells against K562 target cells for 28 days. Cytokines-induced NK cells as effector cells were incubated with K562 cells as target in a ratio of 100 : 1 for 4 h once a week. In results, $CD2^+CD8^+$ NK cells induced by cytokines and stromal cells showed a significantly increased cytotoxicity 21 days later. Whereas, our results indicated that c-$kit^+$ BM cells not pretreated with cytokines have lower levels of cytotoxicity. Taken together, this study suggests that cytokines-induced NK cells from porcine c-$kit^+$ BM cells may be used as adoptive transfer therapy if the known obstacles to xenografting (e.g. immune and non-immune problems) were overcome in the future.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.469-472
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• 2010

Purpose: Aplasia Cutis Congenita (ACC) is a rare disease characterized by the focal defect of the skin at birth, frequently involving scalp, but it may affect any region of the body. There are no etiology known but some conditions such as intrauterine vascular ischemia, amniotic adherences and viral infections are associated. The ideal treatment for the ACC is not known. Superficial and relatively small sized defects (< $3{\times}5\;cm$) may heal spontaneously and large defects related with risks of infection and bleeding may require aggressive surgical treatment. Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$ is a bilayer of an esterified hyaluronan scaffold beneath a silicone membrane. It has been used as a temporary dermal substitute to cover deep thickness skin defect and has physiological functions derive from the structural role in extracellular matrix and interaction with cell surface receptor. This material has been used for the wound bed pre-treatment for skin graft to follow and especially in uncooperative patient, like a newborn, this could be a efficient and aseptic way of promoting granulation without daily irritative wound care. For this reason, using Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$ for the treatment of ACC was preferred in this paper. Methods: We report a case of a newborn with ACC of the vertex scalp and non-ossified partial skull defect. The large sized skin and skull defect ($6{\times}6\;cm$) was found with intact dura mater. No other complications such as bleeding or abnormal neurologic sign were accompanied. Escharectomy was performed and Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$ was applied for the protection and the induction of acute wound healing for 3 months before the split-thickness skin graft. During the 3 months period, the dressing was renewed in aseptic technique for every 3 weeks. The skin graft was achieved on the healthy granulation bed. Results: The operative procedure was uneventful without necessity of blood transfusion. Postoperative physical examination revealed no additional abnormalities. Regular wound management was performed in out-patient clinic and the grafted skin was taken completely. No other problems developed during follow-up. Conclusion: Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$ provides protective and favorable environment for wound healing. The combination of the use of Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$ and the skin graft will be a good alternative for the ACC patients with relatively large defect on vertex.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.6 s.73
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• pp.851-856
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• 2005

Although valuable microbes have been isolated from the soil for the various productions of useful components, the microbes which can be cultivated in the laboratory are only $0.1-1\%$ of all microbes. To solve this problem, the study has recently been tried for making the valuable components from the environment by directly separating unculturable micrbial DNA in the soil. But it is known that humic acid originated from the soil interrupts various restriction enzymes and molecular biological process. Thus, in order to prevent these problems, this study modified the method separated soil DNA with phenol, CTAB and PEG. In order to compare the degree of purity for each DNA and the molecular biological application process, $A_{260}/A_{280}$ ratio, restriction enzymes, and PCR were performed. In case of DNA by the modified method, total yield of DNA was lower but $A_{260}/A_{280}$ ratio was higher than the previously reported methods. It was confirmed that the degree of purity is improved by the modified method. But it was not cut off by all kinds of tested restriction enzymes because of the operation of a very small amount of interrupting substances. When PCR was operated with each diluted DNA in different concentrations and GAPDH primer, the DNA by the modified method could be processed for PCR in the concentration of 100 times higher than by the previously reported separation method. Therefore, this experiment can find out the possibility of utilization for the unknown substances by effectively removing the harmful materials including humic acid and help establishing metagenomic DNA library from the soil DNA having the high degree of purity.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.237-245
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• 2021

Particulate matter and ultra-particle matters generally refer to very small floating dust, such as 1/6 to 1/7 and 1/20 to 1/30, respectively, compared to the thickness of human hair, and contain various types of heavy metal ions. In addition to breathing, particle matters (PM) that flows in through the gaps in the pores of the skin can induce health problems in the body's tissues and skin, so it must be removed by blocking the inflow or by washing. Through this study, we confirmed the possibility that heavy metal ions can be adsorbed and removed by using Oryza sativa (Rice) bran oil (OSBO). In addition, the cell viability is much higher than that of grain-derived components through cytotoxicity experiments, and the cytoprotective effect of an external stimulus source can be expected. It was confirmed that the expression amount of COL1A1 mRNA increased, and accordingly, it was believed that wrinkles that might be caused by moisture lost by heavy metal ions in fine dust could be alleviated. Based on the results of these experiments, we tried to present a cosmetics containing OSBO, which is a wash-off formulation, in order to finally remove heavy metals.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.715-721
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• 2021

Cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease are serious social problems associated with the rising elderly population in Korea. 1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-galloyl-β-ᴅ-glucopyranose (PGG) is a gallotannin isolated from medicinal plants such as Rhus chinensis. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of PGG on biomarkers related to cognitive function in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity is considered to be one of the main therapeutic strategies. PGG inhibited AChE activity in the test tube as well as in SK-N-SH cells. In addition, PGG induced protein and mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is a mammalian neurotrophin that plays major roles in the development, maintenance, repair, and survival of neuronal populations. As one of the underlying molecular mechanisms that induce BDNF expression, PGG induced the activation of Ca²⁺/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)-cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) pathway. In conclusion, PGG may be an useful material for improving cognitive function.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2019

Despite the development of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) including in vitro fertilization (IVF), the poor ovarian response and endometrial receptivity remains clinically a major unmet need. Although these problems are difficulties to solve in infertility treatment, there are no good therapeutic option yet. Traditional herbal remedies and acupuncture, therefore are being proposed as alternative treatment. Our group found that traditional herbal medicines such as Paeonia lactiflora L.(PL, 芍藥), Cyperus rotundus L.(CR, 香附子), and Perilla frutescens (PF, 紫蘇葉) could improve endometrial receptivity. In this study, we found out Yeosin-san (如神散) as an optimal herbal formula via combination of the previously established herbal medicines. Yeosin-san is a traditional Korean medical formula which was established by Ziming Jin (陳自明) and recorded in Furendaiquanliangfang (婦人大全良方) at first. The formula traditionally used for treating abnormal uterine bleeding and leukorrhea. It showed a highest effect on leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) expression and on the adhesion between trophoblastic cells and endometrial cells. In addition, it has been shown that the Yeosin-san not only increases the endometrial receptivity to improve the embryo implantation but also enhances the ovary function by expressing the angiogenesis-related genes. Here we suggest that Yeosin-san could be a novel and effective candidate for treating female infertility.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.50-54
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• 2019

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a heterogeneous group of inherited neuromuscular disorders, characterized by progressive muscle weakness. Severity of the disease ranges from mild to severe, and the disease is mostly caused by mutations in a number of genes. These genetic mutations cause lack of proteins which are essential for muscle cell stability. Muscle fibers are gradually replaced by fat and fibrous tissue. The muscles of the head and neck are affected in several types of MD that manifest as altered craniofacial morphology and dental malocclusion. A 3-year-10-month old, 15.0 kg boy with MD presented to Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Seoul, South Korea because of extensive carious teeth. A number of dental caries in primary dentition were identified during clinical oral examination. Due to dental anxiety and underlying systemic disease, general anesthesia was considered. General anesthesia was induced and maintained with intravenous anesthetics, propofol and remifentanil. Caries treatments - resin restoration, pulpectomy, zirconia crown restoration, stainless steel crown restoration - were performed. Under general anesthesia, successful dental procedure was done. Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) was performed instead of inhalation anesthesia in order to avoid risk of complications such as malignant hyperthermia and life-threatening rhabdomyolysis. With decreasing muscle function, plaque control becomes more difficult and leads to gingivitis. Especially, the open-mouth posture worsens gingivitis and can leads to malocclusions and problems in swallowing. Regular and periodic dental care is essential for maintaining oral health for patients with MD.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.309-315
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• 2019

To enumerate Staphylococcus aureus in food, Baird-Parker Agar (BPA) is usually used in the conventional method, However it requires time and space for the preparation and plating, and incubation. Thus, use of the $3M^{TM}$ $Petrifilm^{TM}$ Staph Express Count Plate (STX Petrifilm) might be appropriate to solve these challenging problems. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency of STX Petrifilm with BPA for enumeration of S. aureus in various foods. A mixture of S. aureus strains ATCC29213, ATCC25923, and ATCC13565 was inoculated on marinated pork chop, beef (chuck tender), dried filefish, semi-dried squid, rice cake, and Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) at 2, 3, 5, and 7 Log CFU/g. S. aureus cell counts were enumerated by spread-plating on STX Petrifilm and BPA after 0 and 24 hours at $4^{\circ}C$ (marinated pork chop, beef, semi-dried squid, and stir-fried glass noodles) and $25^{\circ}C$ (dried filefish and rice cake). Recovery of STX Petrifilm for S. aureus from various food samples was compared with BPA, and the results showed that there were no significant differences between two selective media in all cases. The results indicated that STX Petrifilm had enough efficiency to recover S. aureus from various foods as well as saving time and space.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2019

Purpose: Obesity is a major health problem of global significance because it is clearly associated with an increased risk of health problems, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Lonicera caerulea (LC) originates from high mountains or wet areas and has been used as a traditional medicine in northern Russia, China, and Japan. LC contains a range of bioactive constituents, such as vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols. This study examined the anti-obesity effects of LC during differentiation in preadipocytes. Methods: The cell viability assay was performed after the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells for 7 days. Oil Red O staining was used to visualize the changes in lipid droplets in 3T3-L1 cells and mouse adipose-derived stem cells (MADSCs). The mRNA expression of obesity-related genes was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: According to the results of Oil Red O staining, the lipid levels and size of lipid droplets in the adipocytes were reduced and the LC extract (LCE, 0.25-1 mg/mL) markedly inhibited adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. The treatment of LCE also decreased the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) in 3T3-L1 cells. Western blot analysis showed that the $PPAR{\gamma}$, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, and SREBP1 protein levels in both 3T3-L1 and MADSC were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These results suggest that LCE can inhibit adipogenic differentiation through the regulation of adipogenesis-related markers.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.89-101
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• 2019

In recent times, the number of men with late-onset hypogonadism has increased, and interest on this topic has also increased. This study was conducted to investigate effects of the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus on improve late-onset hypogonadism. The experimental subjects consisted of three groups: a control group consisting of 8-week-old male ICR mice that had undergone no treatment, an aging-elicited group (AE group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice that had undergone no treatment, and a Mixed herbal extract treatment group (MT group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice that had undergone the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus treatment (0.1 g/kg/day) for 6 months. After the experiment, the mice from all the experimental groups were dissected, and they were analyzed through histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus reduces aging-induced cell damage and oxidative stress and increases the secretion of serotonin and B-endorphin in aged mice, and promotes spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules and reduces apoptosis and oxidative stress, and increases androgen receptor, $17{\beta}-HSD$ and GnRH, increases the ratio of smooth muscle to collagen fibers in the corpus cavernosum, increases eNOS, decreases PDE-5 and oxidative stress in aged mice, so it improves depression, reproductive, sexual problems caused by Late-onset hypogonadism. the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus inhibits the induction of osteoporosis by increasing decreased bone matrix distribution due to aging, increasing the activities of OPC and OPN, which are produced in osteoblasts, and decreasing RANKL, MMP-3 activity, increasing OPG activity. It also reduces muscle damage, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis of muscle tissue, and increases Myo-D in the sartorius muscle of aged mice for improving muscle atrophy caused by by Late-onset hypogonadism.