• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2022

Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes inflammation in the mucosal or submucosal layer of the colon. Previous studies have reported that obesity increases the prevalence of ulcerative colitis and aggravates the progression. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate whether curcumin inhibits the progression of ulcerative colitis caused by obesity. Mice were bred on a high-fat diet to induce obesity, and curcumin was administered with the high-fat diet to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect. To induce ulcerative colitis, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was administered orally, and clinical symptoms of colitis were subsequently observed. For histological evaluation of curcumin, the colon, liver and abdominal fat tissue samples were prepared and analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Our results confirm that consumption of curcumin resulted in decreasing the score of the disease activity index, and inhibited shortening of the colon length. In addition, inflammatory cell infiltration and mucosal damage were inhibited in the colon tissue of ulcerative colitis exacerbated by obesity. We further confirmed that exposure to curcumin significantly reduced the steatosis area of the liver and adipocytes of abdominal fat. In conclusion, we believe that curcumin can be applied as a therapeutic agent to treat ulcerative colitis, by inhibiting the progression of colitis caused by obesity.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2018

Objectives : The current study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of youngyanggak-san (YGS) on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced acute liver injury in rats. Methods : YGS is composed of Glycyrrhizae Radix, Asiasari Radix, Cimicifugae Rhizoma, Saigae Tataricae Cornu. While N-YGS (non-youngyanggak-san) doesn't include Saigae Tataricae Cornu. Two samples were administrated TAA together for 3 days. Thirty-six rats were divided into four groups. Rats except for the normal group were received TAA (200 mg/kg of body weight, I.P) were divided into three groups (n=9/group) : Group 1 (TAA only), Group 2 (TAA + 200 mg/kg YGS) and Group 3 (TAA + 200 mg/kg N-YGS). Acute liver damage confirmed using histological examination, The factors associated with oxidative stress and liver function activity measured in serum. Also, expressions of inflammation related proteins were investigated by western blot analysis. Results : Oxidative stress factors such as ROS and $ONOO^-$ in the Group 2 was manifested by a significant rise compared with Group 1. YGS markedly decreased the elevated ROS and $ONOO^-$. Furthermore, YGS significantly reduced the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) The nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) activation induced by TAA led to increase both inflammatory mediators and cytokines. While YGS administration remarkably suppressed such the overexpression. In addition, the histopathological analysis showed that the liver tissue lesions were improved obviously in YGS treatment. Conclusion : YGS provided a hepatoprotective effect on acute liver damage through the suppression of oxidative stress. Especially, this effect enhanced markedly when Saigae Tataricae Cornu is included.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 2023

The tendon is a dense connective tissue that connects muscle to bone and plays an essential role in joint motion. The injured tendon heals slowly owing to its low cellularity and vascularity. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of regenerative injection therapy (RIT), 20 % dextrose prolotherapy (DP), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections that can promote tendon healing. Twenty-one New Zealand white rabbits were divided into the control, DP, and PRP treatment groups. The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) of the right hindlimb of each rabbit was used. A round defect of 2 mm was induced. Approximately 0.2 mL of 20% dextrose and autologous PRP were injected into the proximal and distal ends of the SDFT mass. Radiographic and ultrasonographic examination and cross-sectional area (CSA) calculations were performed pre-operatively and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks. The SDFT of both limbs was transected for biomechanical and histomorphometric evaluations. The SDFT of the left limb was transected for intact control. Semi-quantitative analysis was performed to evaluate the histomorphometric properties. Additional analysis was performed using H&E, Masson's trichrome, and immunohistochemical staining. The biomechanical evaluation showed that the treatment groups had higher tensile strength compared to the defect control group, while the PRP group had higher tensile strength than the DP group. On histological examination, the treatment groups appeared to be relatively closer to the remodeling phase of the healing process than the defect control group; the characteristics of the PRP group were closer to the remodeling phase than those of the DP group. The ultrasonographic examination showed different tendencies. Increased values in the CSA were observed during the early period in the treatment groups. This study suggests that PRP and DP can promote the healing of tendon injury, and these effects were superior with PRP than that with DP.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.29.1-29.11
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• 2024

Background: Preservation of biological tissues has been used since ancient times. Regardless of the method employed, tissue preservation is thought to be a vital step in veterinary surgery teaching and learning. Objectives: This study was designed to determine the usability of chemically preserved cadaveric equine heads for surgical teaching in veterinary medicine. Methods: Six cadaveric equine heads were collected immediately after death or euthanasia and frozen until fixation. Fixation was achieved by using a hypertonic solution consisting of sodium chloride, sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate, and an alcoholic solution containing ethanol and glycerin. Chemically preserved specimens were stored at low temperatures (2℃ to 6℃) in a conventional refrigerator. The specimens were submitted to gross and organoleptic assessment right after fixative solution injection (D0) and within 10, 20, and 30 days of fixation (D10, D20, and D30, respectively). Samples of tissue from skin, tongue, oral vestibule, and masseter muscle were collected for histological evaluation at the same time points. Results: Physical and organoleptic assessments revealed excellent specimen quality (mean scores higher than 4 on a 5-point scale) in most cases. In some specimens, lower scores (3) were assigned to the range of mouth opening, particularly on D0 and D10. A reduced the range of mouth opening may be a limiting factor in teaching activities involving structures located in the oral cavity. Conclusions: The excellent physical, histologic, and organoleptic characteristics of the specimens in this sample support their usability in teaching within the time frame considered. Appropriate physical and organoleptic characteristics (color, texture, odor, and flexibility) of the specimens in this study support the use of the method described for preparation of reusable anatomical specimens.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.398-408
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to verify the usefulness of MTT analysis as a tool of measurement of the periodontal ligament cell viability from the extracted rat molar. A total of 80 Sprague-Dawley white female rat of 4 week-old with a body weight of 100 grams were used. The maxillary left and right, first and second molars were extracted under Ketamine anesthesia. Twenty-four teeth of each group (divided as five groups depending upon the time-lapse after extraction such as Immediate, 10, 20, 40 and 60 minutes) were immersed in $200{\mu}l$ of MTT solution (0.5 mg/ml) and processed for optical density measurements. Another 10 teeth of each group were treated as same as above and sectioned at $10{\mu}m$ for microscopic examination. All measurements values were divided by the value of hematoxylin-eosin staining which represented the volume of each corresponding samples. Immediate and 10 minute groups showed highest MTT values followed by 20, 40, and 60 minutes consecutively. Statistical significance (p<0.05) existed between all groups except in immediate versus 10 minute groups and 40 versus 60 minutes. Histological findings also showed similar findings with MTT results in crystal shape and crystal numbers between the experimental groups. These data indicate that in vivo MTT analysis nay be of value for evaluation of the periodontal ligament cell viability without time- consuming cell culturing processes.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2009

This study was performed using animals to confirm the effect of tourmaline-ionized water (TIW) the properties of which were changed by tourmaline energy and electric discharge. In the ICR mice fed high-fat diet, body weight increasing rate of the TIW-treated group (Exp) was generally decreased and moreover exhibited significance at 11th week (P<0.05) compared with the control (Con) group fed distilled water, although water intake of the Exp group was lower than that of the Con group. In the ICR mice with $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity, AST and ALT activities of the Exp group were not significant but showed some decreasing trend, and histological damage of liver was less compared with thatof the Con group. On the study of ethanol-induced hangovers in Sprague-Dawley rat, blood alcohol concentration was significantly decreased (P<0.01), activity of GST, antioxidant enzyme related to the alcohol metabolism, was increased in liver tissue (P<0.05), and AST and ALT show a tendency to be decreasedin the Exp group. These results suggest that drinking TIWhas not only some obesity preventing effect but also an alcohol detoxification effect and liver protecting effect in vivo. It is supposed due to a structural change of water cluster and a property which maintains the changed structure through tourmaline energy and electric discharge. Therefore, TIW has a potentiality to be developed as functional water with several beneficial effects as well as for daily drinking, but further study on the mechanism related with efficacy will be necessary.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.287-300
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• 2005

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in head and neck show a variability in the response to chemotherapy, even when it present with similar histological tumor type, grade, and clinical stage. The purpose of present study it to identify predictive bio-marker for the sensitivity or resistance to conventional chemotherapeutic agents, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and Cisplatin Oral cancer cell lines were used in present study. MTT assay was performed to evaluate the sensitivity and/or resistance to 5-FU and Cisplatin. And RT-PCR was carried out for evaluation of the mRNA expressions of various genes associated with mutation, inflammation (COX pathway), cell cycle, senescence and extracellular matrix (ECM). The molecules which are correlated with the sensitivity to 5-FU are XPA, XPC, OGG, APEX, COX-2, PPAR, Cyclin E, Cyclin B1, CDC2, hTERT, hTR, TIMP-3, TIMP-4 and HSP47. And the molecules are correlated with the sensitivity to Cisplatin are COX-1, iNOS, eNOS, PCNA, collagen 1 and MMP-9. Taken together, when choosing the appropriate chemotherpeutic agents for patients, considering the molecules which are correlated or reversely correlated is helpful to choose the resonable agents for cancer patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.505-513
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• 2004

Background : In lung cancer patients, the presence of metastatic neck nodes is a crucial indicator of inoperabilty. So thorough physical examination of neck is always mandatory, but sometimes those are hardly palpable even by the skillful hand. Ultrasonography is a useful diagnostic method in detection of small impalpable lymph nodes and in guidance of fine needle aspiration biopsy. In this study we evaluated the clinical usefulness of ultrasonography(USG) and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology(US-FNA) in lung cancer patients without palpable neck nodes. Methods and Materials : From Sep 2002 to Sep 2003, 36 non-small cell lung cancer patients (20 adenocarcinoma, 16 squamous cell cancer) and 10 small cell lung cancer patients without palpable neck nodes on physical examiation were enrolled. patients who had contralateral mediastinal nodal enlargement(>1cm) on chest CT were excluded. After the routine check of USG on the neck, US-FNA was done in cases with enlarged neck nodes (${\geq}5mm$ in the short axis). The presence of enlarged lymph node on USG, and of malignant cells on cytology were evaluated by the histological type and the patients' clinical stage of lung cancer. Results : Among 36 non-small lung cell cancer patients, 14 (38.8%) had enlarged neck nodes on USG, and 5 of 10 small cell lung carcinoma patients. The mean diameter of the neck nodes was 9.8 mm (range, 7-12 mm). US-FNA of 14 non-small cell lung cancer patients revealed tumor cells in eight patients (57.1%). In 5 small cell lung cancer pateints, tumor cells were found in all cases. By the result of US-FNA, the clinical stage of 8 out of 36 (22.2%) non-small cell lung cancer patients had changed, including two cases of shift from the operable IIIa to the inoperable IIIb. In small cell lung cancer patients their clinical stage was not changed after US-FNA, but their pathological diagnosis was easily done in two cases, in whom endobronchial lesions were not found on bronchoscopy. Conclusions : USG and US-FNA of neck node seem to be safe, sensitive and cost-effective diagnostic tools in the evaluation of lung cancer patients without palpable neck nodes.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2001

Purpose : To evaluate changes in rabbit liver parenchyma on MR images following percutaneous Holmium-166 injection, and to correlate those changes with histologic findings. Materials and methods. Holmium-166 (10-25 mCi) was percutaneously injected into the liver of rabbit (n=12) under sonographic guidance. MR images were obtained between one to two weeks (acute phasea) after the injection in four rabbits, and between two to four weeks (subacute phase) after the injection in four rabbits. Tissue specimens of these eight rabbits were obtained immediately after MR imaging. Tissue specimens were obtained without MR imaging in four rabbits (between one to two weeks in one rabbit and between three to four weeks in three rabbits). Results : Tissue specimens showed central liquefactive necrosis and peripheral coagulative necrosis containing deposition of small particles and hemorrhage. The peripheral margin of the lesions showed formation of the granulation tissue with fibrosis, which tended to be more prominent in subacute phase. The area of the necrosis tended to correlate with the dose of the radioactive Holmium-166. On MR images, the central portion of the necrosis showed hyperintensity on 72-weighted image, hypointensity on the precontrast T1-weighted images, and no enhancement on the dynamic MR images. The peripheral portion of the necrosis showed hypointensity on T2-weighted images, iso or mild hypointensity on the T1-weighted images, and mild peripheral enhancement on the delayed dynamic MR images. The peripheral margin of the lesion showed hypointensity on both T1- and T1-weighted images with increased enhancement on the delayed phase images of the dynamic MR images. Conclusion : After percutaneous Holmium-166 injection into rabbit liver parenchyma, the central portion showed liquefactive necrosis, the peripheral portion showed coagulative necrosis with granulation, fibrosis, hemorrhage and depostition of small granules. MR imaging may be helpful in evaluation of the histological change of the liver after percutaneous Holmium-166 treatment.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.324-331
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• 2008

Introduction : Korean red ginseng has been shown to have an preventive effect on atheroma formation and enhancing effect on nitric oxide synthesis in endothelial cell inducing vasodilatation. However, there are few studies showing the effect of Korean red ginseng on blood pressure and vascular(endothelial) pathologic changes together. We designed this study to show changes of blood pressure and vascular pathologic findings with Korean red ginseng administration compared with Chinese red ginseng and control for 3 months in rats. Materials and methods : We studied the in vitro hypotensive effect and effect on vascular pathologic changes of Korean red ginseng compared with Chinese red ginseng and control. Rats were randomly assigned to three groups(Korean red ginseng, Chinese red ginseng and control) and evaluated by blood pressure and aortic vascular(endothelial) pathologic changes monthly during 3-month administration. All results were analyzed by paired T-test, ANOVA and post-hoc. Results : Blood pressure lowering effect was noted on Korean red ginseng and Chinese red ginseng compared to control. Especially, in Korean red ginseng group, hypotensive effect was showed in first and second month, but, in Chinese red ginseng group, it was just noted in first month. In case of vascular(aortic endothelial) pathologic finding, endothelial wall thickening and elastic fiber tearing were noted in Chinese red ginseng group compared with Korean red ginseng group and control with statistical significance.(p<0.05) Discussion : These results suggested Korean red ginseng could have more hypotensive effect and maintenance rather than Chinese red ginseng. And the difference of hypotensive effect between Korean red ginseng and Chinese red ginseng might has some association with difference of vascular pathologic findings in each group. However, further evaluation and research of other mechanism will be needed to convince this hypothesis.