• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1355-1363
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• 2011

Many clinical trials have demonstrated the beneficial effects of garlic (Allium sativum) on general cardiovascular health. Aged garlic extract (AGE) is known to display diverse biological activities such as in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. However, few studies have been directed on the effect of AGE on cardiovascular function. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of AGE and its components on platelet activation, a key contributor in thrombotic diseases. In freshly isolated rat platelets, AGE and its components have shown inhibitory activities on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. These in vitro results were further confirmed in an in vivo platelet aggregation measurement where tail vein injection of garlic oil and S-Allylmercapto-cysteine (SAMC) significantly reduced thrombin and ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Potential active components for antiplatelet effects of AGE were identified to be SAMC and diallyl sulphide through agonist-induced platelet aggregation assay. These results indicate that aged garlic extract can be a novel dietary supplement for the prevention of cardiovascular risks and the improvement of blood circulation.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.375-384
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• 2011

Purpose: The advent of microsurgical technique and instruments, particularly in the field of perforator flap and supermicrosurgery, which have expanded the scope of microsurgery. However, supermicroanastomosis without any compression, tension, or distortions must be achieved to reach successful outcomes. Small-caliber vessels, such as those with an internal diameter less than 0.2 mm, are susceptible to inadvertent twisting of the anastomosis. In this study, using the superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA)-based flap model in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, we evaluated the acceptable limits of twisting effects on supermicroanastomotic sites. Methods: A total of 20 supermicroanastomoses were performed using the SIEA-based flap model in 10 male SD rats, 10-weeks-of-age, weighing 300~350 g. Rats were divided into five groups of two with four flaps as follows: 1) sham, 2) control group with end to end SIEA arterial supermicroanastomosis, 3) experimental I (EA1) with $90^{\circ}$ twisting, 4) experimental II (EA2) with $180^{\circ}$ twisting, and 5) experimental III (EA3) with $270^{\circ}$ twisting of the supermicroanastomosis. Each SIEA was anastomosed using six 11-0 $Ethilon^{(R)}$ (Ethicon Inc. Co., NJ, USA) stitches except in the sham group where the SIEA was only clamped with Supermicro vascular $clamps^{(R)}$ (S&T, Neuhausen, Switzerland) for 20 minutes. Results: The anastomosed arterial patency showed no remarkable changes according to doppler waveforms measured with a Smardop 45 Doppler System (Hadeco Inc., Kawasaki, Japan). The pulsatility index (PI) was increased at postoperative day 10 in the EA2 and EA3 groups, and the resistance index (RI) showed no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative values at 10 days. Histologic specimens from the EA3 group showed increased tunica media necrosis, convolution of the internal elastic lamina, densely packed platelets, fibrin, and erythrocytes. Flap viability and anastomosed vessel patency were not significantly affected by the degree of arterial twisting in this study, other than in the EA3 group where minor effects on arterial patency of the microanastomoses were encountered. Conclusion: It appears that minor twisting on small caliber arteries, used in supermicroanastomoses, can be tolerated. However, twisting should be avoided as much as possible, and more than $180^{\circ}$ twisting must be prevented in clinical practice.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2008

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant salivary gland tumor which compromises about 6$\sim$8% of all tumors followed by the adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and adenocarcinoma. Most deaths from salivary carcinomas are caused by recurrent or metastatic lesions that are resistant to conventional therapy. Therefore, knowledge of cellular properties and tumor-host interactions that influence the vascular metastasis is important for the design of more effective therapy of salivary carcinomas. Neoangiogenesis is essential for tumor growth, which is postulated to be fundamentally dependent on the induction of stromal neovascularization. However, how neovascularization takes place in live tissue has not been fully established, especially in recruitment and differentiation of endothelial cells in the salivary gland tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a heparin-binding, dimeric polypeptide growth factor known to exert its mitogenic activity specifically on endothelial cells. VEGF has been shown th be directly involved in angiogenesis, which in essential for the pathogenesis of many solid tumors. von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a large multimeric protein synthesized by megakaryocytes and endothelial cells that enable platelets to adhere to exposed subendothelium and, as well, to respond to changes in the blood flow. Recent studies suggest that increased levels of vWF correlate with progression of disease, metastasis, or survival time and thus may have a prognostic significance. vWF is explained as an acute phase proteins which is increased in cancer or as a result of increased endothelial cell synthesis associated with tumor-induced angiogenesis. Due to adhesive properties of vWF, its increased concentrations may also contribute metastasis of tumor. In this study, we determined the mRNA expression of VEGF and vWF in salivary ACC, MEC and pleomorphic adenoma by in situ hybridization. As a result, stronger expression of VEGF and vWF was seen in salivary ACC and MEC which has more invasive nature than the salivary benign tumor.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.468-472
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• 2007

The Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS) is an inherited immunodeficiency caused by a variety of mutations in the gene encoding the WAS protein (WASp). First described in 1937 by Wiskott, the incidence of WAS has so far been estimated at 4 in 106 live births. The Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome is an X-linked condition characterized by 1) an increased tendency to bleed caused by a reduced number of platelets, 2) recurrent bacterial, viral and fungal infections, and 3) eczema of the skin. The purpose of this report is to present cases highlighting the clinical features of the syndrome and the required considerations in the treatment of patients. The report consists of two particular cases: a 2-year-11-month-old boy seen for a routine oral examination prior to his bone marrow transplantation and a 2-year-6-month-old boy with herpes gingivostomatitis and teeth discoloration.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2000

In the case of osteosarcoma, secondary acute myeloid leukemia which occurs as the consequences of the complication of chemotherapy, is rare. We are reporting the case that we have recently experienced in the laboratory. A case of secondary acute myeloid leukemia have been occurred to among 77 patients who have been diagnosed as osteosarcoma and received chemotherapy from 1995 to 1999. This case was compared with the cases of other reports for the analysis of its cause and results. A 17-year-old man was diagnosed as a osteosarcoma in the distal part of femur, and recieved chemotherapy. Within 28months, the hematological analysis of the case indicated the severe increase in the number of the white cell (over 200,000) and the profound decrease in the number of platelets. A test of bone marrow needle aspiration and peripheral blood smear showed a tremendous increase in the number of the monocytoid immature cell, which mostly are blasts and promonocytes. Due to this clinical results, the case was diagnosed as the secondary acute myeloid leukemia after the chemotherapy. The frequency of occurrence of secondary acute myeloid leukemia after chemotherapy is quite phenomenal. But the disease could be fatal leading to a high rate of morbidity and mortality without early diagnosis and treatment. Hence, an enough recognition of the possibility of its development, the periodical observation and inspection after chemotherapy and an immediate treatment in the case of occurrence are essential.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.274-283
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• 2004

Six lumbrokinase (LK) fractions from Lumbricus rubellus lysates were purified by a series of column chromatographies. The molecular weights of the six LK fractions appeared to range from 24.6 to 33.1 kDa. In the experimental model of rat venous thrombosis, the thrombus weight and PAI activity decreased significantly when the LK was administered orally. However, the activities of APTT, PT and plasmin showed a significant increase. The aggregation of rat platelets pretreated with various LK doses was inhibited by thrombin, and the MDA generation decreased. The rat thoracic aorta and mesentric arteries contracted with phenylephrine relaxed due to the treatment of the LK fractions. These results suggest that the fibrinolytic effects of LK were mediated not only by proteolytic activity, but also by the inhibition of platelet agregation and the relaxation of blood vessels. It is concluded that the LK may be useful as a hemolytic agent for treatment of fibrin clot.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.181-185
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• 2014

We identified SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) genes in the Korean genome. eNOS is present in the vascular endothelium, platelets, and several other cell types that continuously produce modest amounts of NO. Endothelium-derived NO plays a key role in the regulation of vascular tone, and the impaired effects of NO on the cardiovascular system appear to be responsible for coronary atherosclerosis and thrombosis. In recent studies, a missense variant within exon 7 of the eNOS gene in patients with coronary spastic angina-GAG to GAT substitution, which results in the replacement of glutamic acid by aspartic acid (Glu298Asp [G894T])-has been identified and is known to be significantly associated with coronary spasm. We prepared PCR primers based on sequences in Genbank. Primers were prepared for normal and SNPs separately, as reported for other Asian countries, such as G894T. Their sequences were different only at the 3' ends so that primer extension could only by possible when base pairs between templates and primers matched. We also employed ARMS (Amplification Refractory Mutation System) technology to improve the specificity of the PCR reaction. In conclusion, we were able to demonstrate the eNOS G894A polymorphism in Korean gemone. This study should facilitate research on the cause of myocardial infarction and development on further therapy at the genetic level.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.289-295
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• 2016

Sorbus commixta, a flowering plant in the Rosaceae family, is native to Japan and Ulleung Island, Korea. This plant is also called maga-mok or mai-mok in Korea because the bud of the stem has a similar shape to the teeth of a horse. In this study, hot water extracts from different parts of S. commixta, such as leaf, stem, and immature and mature fruits, were prepared, and their antithrombosis and antioxidant activities were evaluated. The extraction yield and pH of stem extracts were 3.99% and 5.5, respectively. The stem extracts contained 89.2 mg/g of total polyphenols and 28.3 mg/g of total flavonoids. The hot water extracts prepared from the leaf, stem, immature, and mature fruit of S. commixta exhibited no hemolytic activity against human red blood cells, up to a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. In an anticoagulation assay, the stem extracts showed strong extension in thrombin, prothrombin, and activated partial thromboplastin times, whereas the other extracts had no anticoagulation activity. In a platelet aggregation inhibitory activity assay, all the extracts tested had no inhibitory activity against human platelets. With regard to antioxidation activity, the stem extracts showed stronger radical scavenging activity and reducing power activity than the other extracts. The calculated RC₅₀s, the concentration required for 50% radical scavenging activity, for DPPH anions, ABTS cations, and nitrite of the crude stem extracts were 119.7, 53.3, and 117.5 μg/ml, respectively, whereas they were 13.7, 5.2, and 14.9 μg/ml for DPPH anions, ABTS cations, and nitrite, respectively, for vitamin C. The results suggest that the stem extracts of S. commixta have strong potential for use as a novel resource for antithrombosis agents.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 1995

This study was conducted to investigate the possibility of obtaining platelets via somatic embryogenesis as a means of in vivo mass propagation in Paeonia lactiflora Pall.. When cultured on MS medium with 0.5 mg/L 2, 4-D, filament explants formed calli. UPon transfer to basal medium the calli gave rise to somatic embryos at a frequency of 38%. Additional of 3g/L activated charcoal enhanced the frequency to 60%. Mature embryos preheated at 5$^{\circ}C$ for 2 weeks had 37% germination on medium with 0.3 mg/L GA$_3$. The germinated embryos developed to complete plantlet when cultured on medium with 2mg/L BA.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.627-630
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• 2010

The aim of this study is to investigate neutrophil activation markers among canine ICU (intensive care unit) control, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis. These markers include WBC (white blood cells), platelets counts, blood film examination (neutrophilic band to segmentation ratio and neutrophilic degenerative changes), and flow cytometric analysis (CD11b expression of neutrophils). As a result, the mean CD11b fluorescence intensity of neutrophils and the neutrophilic degenerative change scores were both significantly higher in sepsis group (P<0.05). In addition, mortality was also found to be correlated with the up-regulation of CD11b expression in circulating neutrophils. This study demonstrates that CD11b expression of neutrophils could be more a reliable biomarker to predict prognosis in ICU patients than traditional blood film examination according to this study.