• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.127-131
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• 2010

Mycobacterium leprae detection is difficult even with molecular biological techniques due to the low sensitivity of current methodologies. In this report, real-time PCR targeting the M. leprae-specific repetitive element (RLEP) sequence was developed as a new diagnostic tool and evaluated using clinical specimens. For this, M. leprae DNAs were extracted from skin biopsy specimens from 80 patients and analyzed by real-time PCR using TaqMan probe. Then, the detection efficiency of the real-time PCR was compared with that of standard PCR. In brief, the rate of positive detection by the standard PCR and real-time PCR was 32.50% and 66.25%, respectively. The results seemed to clearly show that the TaqMan real-time PCR developed in this study may be a useful tool for sensitive detection of M. leprae from clinical specimens.

• 셀메드
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.4.1-4.5
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• 2019

The medicinal plants are extensively used for curing variegated malady in day to day life. There is an emergent demand for plant based medicines, food supplements, health products, pharmaceuticals etc. Mochrus (Bombax ceiba Linn.) is one of the valuable medicinal plants used in Unani system of medicine since relic belongs to family Bombacaceae. It is a tall tree and widely distributed through India, Africa, Australia and tropical Asia. Many parts of the plant (root, stem bark, gum, leaf, prickles, flower, fruit, seed and heartwood) are used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. It is reported to possess nafe sailanur reham (beneficial in leucorrhea), mujaffif (siccative), muqawwi reham (uterine tonic), qabiz (constipative), muallide mani (production of semen), mumsik wa mughalliz mani (increase consistency of semen), dafe fasaad khoon wa safra (purifies blood and bile) etc. It is used in asthma, diarrhoea, wound, leprosy, boils and many other skin diseases. Also possess some important pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, analgesic, antipyretic, antibacterial, diuretic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, hypoglycaemic and hypotensive etc. It is reported to contain phytoconstituents like polysaccharides, naphthoquinones, anthocyanins, lupeol and naphthol etc. This paper provides a compendium review on pharmacological, phytochemical properties and therapeutic benefits of the plant.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.744-749
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• 2018

Dapsone, an antibiotic, has been used to cure leprosy. It has been reported that dapsone has anti-inflammatory activity in hosts; however, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of dapsone has not been fully elucidated. The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of dapsone on bone marrow cells (BMs), especially upon exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We treated BMs with LPS and dapsone, and the treated cells underwent cellular activity assay, flow cytometry analysis, cytokine production assessment, and reactive oxygen species assay. LPS distinctly activated BMs with several characteristics including high cellular activity, granulocyte changes, and tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) production increases. Interestingly, dapsone modulated the inflammatory cells, including granulocytes in LPS-treated BMs, by inducing cell death. While the percentage of Gr-1 positive cells was 57% in control cells, LPS increased that to 75%, and LPS plus dapsone decreased it to 64%. Furthermore, dapsone decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential of LPS-treated BMs. At a low concentration ($25{\mu}g/mL$), dapsone significantly decreased the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in LPS-treated BMs by 54%. This study confirmed that dapsone has anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-mediated inflammation via modulation of the number and function of inflammatory cells, providing new and useful information for clinicians and researchers.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.329-335
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• 2010

The extract from Hydnocarpi Semen (HS) has been used to treat leprosy and its anti-inflammatory activity has been reported. However, the effect of HS on the treatment of diabetic or peripheral ulcer is not well known. We therefore examined its wound healing effects on ulcer area in diabetic mice. GC and GC/MS analysis with the total extract of HS show that the main constituents of the extract are chaulmoogric acid, hydnocarpic acid, and gorlic acid. Whereas HS showed wound healing effect in diabetic ulcer, there was no hypoglycemic effect in diabetic mice. The treatment of HS extract significantly decreased the level of total WBC and neutrophils in mice compared to control mice. Cutting ulcer was induced by the round-shaped punch on the backside of diabetic mice and the extract of HS was given orally or topically. The wound area score significantly decreased after treatment of HS at dose of 50 mg/kg. The treatment of HS also induced the activation of macrophages and increased the production of IL-12 and TNF-$\alpha$ in macrophages, indicating that the wound healing by HS extract is associated with the inflammatory effect via the activation of macrophages. Our results suggest that HS extract can be a new therapeutic candidate for treatment of diabetic ulcer.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권3호
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• pp.229-236
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• 2020

Cutaneous leishmaniosis (CL) is the most common form of leishmaniasis.CL caused by L. major and L. tropica is endemic in 17 provinces of Iran. This study was carried out to elucidate situation of CL in Ardabil province and to predict distribution of Phlebotomus papatasi and Phlebotomus sergenti (Diptera: Psychodidae) as vectors of CL in the region. In this cross-sectional study, data on CL patients were collected from local health centers of Ardabil province, Iran during 2006-2018 to establish a geodatabase using ArcGIS10.3. A total of 20 CL cases were selected randomly and skin samples were collected and analyzed by PCR method. MaxEnt 3.3.3 model was used to determine ecologically suitable niches for the main vectors. A total, 309 CL human cases were reported and the highest incidence rate of disease was occurred in Bilasavar (37/100,000) and Germi (35/100,000). A total of 2,794 sand flies were collected during May to October 2018. The environmentally suitable habitats for P. papatasi and P. sergenti were predicted to be present in northern and central areas of Ardabil province. The most variable that contributed ratio in the modeling were Isothermality and slope factors. Ardabil province is possibly an endemic are for CL. The presence of P. papatasi and P. sergenti justifies local transmission while the vectors of CL are existing in the northern and central areas of the province.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.266-278
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• 2008

Erythrina stricta, a deciduous tree widely used traditionally in indigenous system of medicine for various ailments such as rheumatism, fever, leprosy, epilepsy etc. The leaves of Erythrina stricta was extracted with ethanol (70%) and used for the evaluation of various in vitro antioxidant assays which includes H - donor activity, nitric oxide scavenging, superoxide anion scavenging, reducing ability, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total antioxidant activity by thiocyanate and phosphomolybdenum method, metal chelating, $\beta$-carotene bleaching, total peroxy radical assays. The pro-oxidant activity was measured using bleomycin-dependent DNA damage. Ex vivo models like lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte haemolysis were also used to study the antioxidant property of the extract. The various antioxidant activities were compared with suitable standard antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxyl toluene, $\alpha$-tocopherol, curcumin, quercetin and Trolox. The generation of free radicals viz. $O_2^{{\cdot}-}$, $OH^{\cdot}$, $H_2O_2$, $NO^{\cdot}$ and peroxyl radicals were effectively scavenged by the ethanolic extract of Erythrina stricta. In all the methods, the extract offered strong antioxidant activity in a concentration dependent manner. The total phenolic content, flavonoid content and total antioxidant activity in Erythrina stricta were determined as microgram (g) pyrocatechol, quercetin and $\alpha$-tocopherol equivalent/mg respectively. The extract did not exhibit any prooxidant activity when compared with ascorbic acid. The results obtained in the present study clearly indicates that Erythrina stricta scavenges free radicals and reduces lipid peroxidation, ameliorating the damage imposed by oxidative stress in different disease conditions and serve as a potential source of natural antioxidant.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제10권5호
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• pp.685-689
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• 2000

Due to the uncultivable nature of Mycobacterium leprae in vitro, the fast, easy, and accurate measurement of the antimicrobial drug susceptibility of this microbe has been difficult. Conventional methods for such testing are subjective, cumbersome, and expensive in some cases. Here, the utility of a reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR)-based assay for testing was examined and compared with a Buddmeyer-type radiorespirometric assay. The susceptibility of M. leprae to rifampin was determined by probing the presence of M.leprae-specific 18 kDa gene mRNA in M. leprae-infected IC-21 macrophage cells after drug treatment. The results showed that, as the refampin concentration was increased, the 360-bp cDNA products generated by the RT-PCR-based assay decreased in a dose-dependent manner as in the drug susceptibility observed in the Buddmeyer-type assay. The drug susceptibility testing of M. leprae by the RT-PCR based assay was found to be not only faster but also nearly $10^4$-fold more sensitive than the Buddmeyer-type assay. Moreover, it was also found that, unlike the RT-PCR based assay, the same testing by a DNA-PCR resulted in no differences in the 360-bp signal, regardless of the rifampin concentrations used. Accordingly, these results demonstrated that the drug susceptibility of M. leprae can be determined effectively by an RT-PCR-based assay, thereby providing a new, fast, and sensitive testing method.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.203-216
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• 1991

Nerve allografts as a bridge of regeneration is useful in the repair of peripheral nerve defect resulting from trauma, and leprosy. But immunological rejection and complicated scar formation is an unavoidable problem in the application of allogeneic nerves. This article is intended to study of the regeneration of allogeneic nerve grafts in rats with histopathologically, scanning electron microscopically. 24 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used as the experimental animals. A 2cm skin incision was made on the lateral aspects of limb, parallel to femur. Segments of sciatic nerve trunk taken from rats, 10mm was resected at the middle of the thigh, nerve graft was inserted between the ends of gaps with perineural and epineural suture method with 10-0 prolene. Obsrevation was made simultaneously at 3 day, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 weeks after surgery. The results were as follows. 1. In light and electronic microscopic studies, marked degenerative change of the graft nerves were observed at 2 weeks after surgery. 2. After surgery, blood clot fromation was observed at 3 day, granualtion tissue formation was observed at 2 week, and fibrous tissue proliferation was observed at 3 week. 3. In change of nerve fiber, there were Wallerian degeneration at early stage, decrease in degeneration at 4 week but degeneration of myeline was continuded at 8 week. 4. At 4 week, schwann cells proliferate at its cut ends to join with the distal and proximal stump of the damaged nerve. 5. Fibrous scar tissues are formed at 2 weeks and increased progressively in 8 weeks, which was interrupted the regeneration of grafted nerve.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.159-167
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• 2016

Prostate cancer is one of the most common non-skin cancers in men. Armeniacae Amarum Semen has traditionally been used for the treatment of inflammation diseases, leprosy, leucoderma, and tumors. Apoptosis, which is also known as programmed cell death, is an important mechanism in cancer treatment.Objectives : We observed whether an aqueous extract of Armeniacae Amarum Semen induces apoptotic cell death in human DU145 prostate cancer cells.Methods : We treated DU145 cells with Armeniacae Amarum Semen extract and investigated characteristics of apoptosis. And investigated whether treated with Armeniacae Amarum Semen extract increased Bax mRNA expression, Bcl-2 mRNA expression, caspase-3 enzyme activity and their protein level.Results : We have shown that Armeniacae Amarum Semen extract can induce apoptotic cell death in human DU145 prostate cancer cells by caspase-3 activation through the down-regulation on Bcl-2 expression and the up-regulation on Bax expression.Conclusions : It can be expected that an aqueous extract of Armeniacae Amarum Semen may offer a valuable means for the treatment of prostate cancers.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.63-74
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• 2013

Objective : Low level laser therapy(LLLT) is conjugated many different diseases such as skin disease, nervous system disease, cardiovascular disease, etc. This study was tried to survey the conjugation of LLLT in field of ophthalmology, otolaryngology and dermatology of Korean Medicine. Methods : In this study, LLLT deal with the field of ophthalmology, otolaryngology and dermatology was searched at Pubmed and NDSL. We searched Pubmed and NDSL with the title "Laser Therapy and Low-Level" for the last 10 years and analyzed disease, laser type, sample size, effect, journal and year. Results : Using Pubmed and NDSL, 8 treatises were researched. About 8 treatises, 7 treatises were papers in field of dermatology, 1 treatise was ophthalmology. And about 8 treatises, 6 treatises were foreign papers and 2 treatises were domestic papers on clinical application of laser status. Mainly used type of laser was a He-Ne laser and Diode laser. The diseases were ocular hypertension, acne, ulcers in patients with leprosy sequelae, freckles, segmental-type vitiligo lesions, diabetes-linked skin lesion, facial skin melanin and elasticity, atopic dermatitis symptom. As a result, we found that treat group had more improvement than control group in 7 of the 8 treatises, that treat group had no difference control group on effect significantly only 1 treatise. Conclusions: As therapeutic tool, LLLT's application range is very wide in the field of ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, and dermatology. Keep up with the increasing interest of domestic and foreign about laser therapy, clinical tries on the use of laser will be studied steadily. It is necessary to have sustained attention and research on the point of view of the Korean Medicine.