Kyung-Hee Lee

Myricetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, prevents 2-deoxy-d-ribose induced dysfunction and oxidative damage in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells

Myricetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, was investigated to determine whether it could protect osteoblasts from 2-deoxy-d-ribose induced dysfunction and oxidative damage in the MC3T3-E1 cells. MC3T3-E1 cells were incubated with 2-deoxy-d-ribose and/or myricetin, and markers of osteoblast function and oxidative damage were examined. Compared with control incubation, 2-deoxy-d-ribose significantly (P<0.05) inhibited alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen content, and calcium deposition at the concentration of 20 mM. Cellular malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl, and advanced oxidation protein products contents were significantly (P<0.05) increased in the presence of 2-deoxy-d-ribose (20 mM). Myricetin significantly (P<0.05) increased cell survival, ALP activity, collagen, osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, and calcium deposition and decreased MDA, protein carbonyl, and advanced oxidation protein products contents of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells in the presence of 20 mM 2-deoxy-d-ribose. These results demonstrate that myricetin attenuates 2-deoxy-d-ribose induced damage, suggesting that myricetin may be a useful dietary supplement for minimizing oxidative injury in diabetes related bone diseases.

cDNA Microarray Analysis of Nerve Growth Factor-Regulated Gene Expression Profile in Rat PC12 Cells

Nerve growth factor (NGF)-driven differentiation of PC12 cells into neuronal-like cells provides a representative model system for studying neuronal differentiation processes. Despite of extensive research, gene regulation associated with the differentiation program in PC12 cells still needs to be elucidated. We used cDNA microarray analysis to characterize the response of PC12 cells to NGF at mRNA expression. Forty-six genes were reproducibly influenced by 2-fold or more after NGF treatment for 5xa0days. Twenty-five of the regulated transcripts were matched to genes which have known functions. Among the microarray results confirmed with real-time reverse transcriptase assay, several genes have not previously known to be modulated by NGF. The results mostly reflected changes in molecules regulating neural plasticity, cytoskeletal organization, and lipid metabolism, which include neuritin, PDZ protein Mrt1, lipoprotein lipase, tropomodulin 1 and rhoB. These observed genetic changes may provide new information about molecular mechanisms underlying NGF-promoted differentiation of PC12 cells.

Activation of microglial cells by ceruloplasmin.

Ceruloplasmin (Cp) is the major copper transport protein in plasma and catalyzes the conversion of toxic ferrous iron to the safer ferric iron. As an acute-phase protein, Cp is induced during inflammation. It is synthesized primarily in the liver and is expressed in several other tissues, including the brain. Elevated Cp levels have been observed in the brain of patients with neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimers, Parkinsons, and Huntingtons diseases. However, the exact role(s) of Cp in inflammatory and neuropathological conditions remains unclear. Microglia are the prime effector cells involved in immune and inflammatory responses in the central nervous system (CNS). They are activated during pathological conditions to restore CNS homeostasis, but chronic microglial activation endangers neuronal survival. Consequently, it is important to identify the regulators of microglial activation and the underlying mechanisms. We sought to examine whether Cp might modulate microglial activation. We observed that Cp induced nitric oxide (NO) release and inducible NO synthase mRNA expression in BV2 microglial cells and rat brain microglia. Cp also increased levels of mRNAs encoding tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, cyclooxygenase-2, and NADPH oxidase. Treatment of BV2 cells and primary microglia with Cp induced phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. Moreover, Cp induced nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation, showing a more sustained pattern than seen with bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Cp-stimulated NO induction was significantly attenuated by a p38 inhibitor, SB203580, and the NF-kappaB inhibitor SN50. Cp induced secretion of TNF-alpha and prostaglandin E(2) in primary microglial cultures. These results suggest that Cp may play an important role in neuropathological conditions by stimulating various proinflammatory and neurotoxic molecules in microglia.

Antioxidant and antiinflammatory activity of pine pollen extract in vitro.

To determine the medicinal properties of pine pollen, the antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of the ethanol extract of pine pollen extract (PPE) were investigated. PPE displayed a strong free radical scavenger activity on 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radical and hydrogen peroxide. It was observed also that the antioxidant activity, measured by the ferric thiocyanate method, increased with the addition of PPE to the linoleic acid emulsion system. PPE was also found to inhibit significantly the amount of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyls formed from liver homogenate. Like the antioxidant activity, the reducing power of PPE was excellent. Thereafter, the study investigated the effects of PPE in modulating the production of pro‐inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐activated RAW 264.7 macrophages, and the effect of PPE on interleukin (IL)‐1β‐induced matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) production and mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation in the human synovial sarcoma cell line, SW982. PPE was found to inhibit the production of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor‐α, IL‐1 and IL‐6 in LPS‐activated macrophages. Treatment with PPE at 10 µg/mL significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited IL‐1β‐induced MMPs (MMP‐1 and ‐3) production in SW982 cells. IL‐1β‐induced JNK activation was inhibited by PPE (10 µg/mL), whereas p38 and ERK1/2 were not affected. These findings suggest that pine pollen is a potential antioxidant and beneficial for inflammatory conditions through down‐regulation of JNK and MMPs. Copyright

Rubus coreanus Miq. extract promotes osteoblast differentiation and inhibits bone-resorbing mediators in MC3T3-E1 cells.

To prevent bone loss that occurs with increasing age, certain nutritional and pharmacological factors are needed. In the present study, the ethanol extract from the fruit of Rubus coreanus Miq. (RCE) was investigated for its effect on the function of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. RCE (10approximately50 microg/ml) caused a significant elevation in cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen content, and osteocalcin secretion in the cells. The effect of RCE (50 microg/ml) in increasing cell viability, ALP activity, and collagen content was prevented by the presence of 10(-6) M cycloheximide and 10(-6) M tamoxifen, suggesting that RCEs effect results from a newly synthesized protein component and might be partly involved in estrogen action. We then examined the effect of RCE on the H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis and production of local factors in osteoblasts. Treatment with RCE (10approximately50 microg/ml) decreased the 0.2 mM H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis and production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6 and nitric oxide (NO) in osteoblasts. Our data indicate that the enhancement of osteoblast function by Rubus coreanus Miq. may result in the prevention of osteoporosis and inflammatory bone diseases.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Ligularia fischeri leaves in experimental animals.

AIM OF THE STUDYnThe ethanol extract (LF) of Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis (leaf) has been evaluated for antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in mice.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnAnalgesic and anti-inflammatory activities were studied by measuring nociception induced by formalin, acetic acid and hot-plate, and inflammation induced by carrageenan, formalin, and arachidonic acid.nnnRESULTSnThe acute treatment of mice with LF at doses of 100 and 200mg/kg, by oral administration, produced a significant antinociceptive effect in the acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced pain licking and hot-plate-induced pain. Also, the LF significantly inhibited both carrageenan- and formalin-induced inflammation as well as arachidonic acid-induced ear edema in mice.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThese inhibitions were statistically significant (P<0.05). Thus, our investigation suggests a potential benefit of Ligularia fischeri in treating conditions associated with inflammatory pain.

Effect of pine pollen extract on experimental chronic arthritis

The effects of pine pollen extract (PE) on Freunds complete adjuvant (FCA)‐induced arthritis and collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) were investigated. The oral administration of PE (100 and 200 mg/kg per day) for 21 days after subcutaneous immunization with FCA, significantly reduced hindpaw swelling and the production of inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IL‐6) compared with the FCA‐induced arthritis group. Treatment with the PE (100 mg/kg) also decreased the serum levels of LDL‐cholesterol and increased HDL‐cholesterol contents compared with those of the arthritis group. Since CIA is a model of some types of human autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the study examined whether PE is efficacious against CIA in mice and investigated the possible antioxidant potential of PE on CIA. Arthritis in DBA/1J mice was induced by subcutaneous immunization with bovine type II collagen. PE (100 and 200 mg/kg) was orally administered once daily for 49 days after initial immunization with type II collagen. The arthritis score and paw edema were markedly suppressed in the groups treated with PE. Moreover, administration of PE (100 mg/kg) for 49 days reduced the serum levels of rheumatoid factor, anti‐type II collagen antibody, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, protein carbonyl, advanced glycation endproducts, malondialdehyde and LDL‐cholesterol compared with that of CIA mice. These results suggest that the pine pollen might be beneficial in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders. Copyright

Glycyrrhizae Radix Inhibits Osteoclast Differentiation by Inhibiting c-Fos-Dependent NFATc1 Expression

Osteoporosis results from imbalance between new bone formation and bone resorption leading to bone loss and is especially troublesome for postmenopausal women who suffer from estrogen deficiency. The ability of new therapeutic agents to treat this bone disease with minimal side effects has been extensively reported on and is continuously being sought out by researchers in this field. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate a natural herb that was already being used as a new treatment for osteoporosis. Here we found that water extract of Glycyrrhizae radix (GR) inhibits receptor activator of nuclear factor-[Formula: see text]B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner without causing cytotoxicity. The mRNA expression of c-Fos, nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR) was considerably inhibited by GR treatment. GR inhibited RANKL-mediated c-Fos and NFATc1 expression in a dose-dependent manner. GR inhibited the degradation of I-[Formula: see text]B in RANKL-stimulated BMMs. However, GR-mediated inhibition of osteoclast differentiation and osteoclast-specific gene expression, including NFATc1, was reversed by ectopic expression of c-Fos. Also, GR significantly inhibited osteoclast formation in mouse calvariae in the presence of IL-1 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Taken together, these results suggest that GR inhibited osteoclast differentiation, raising the possibility that GR may serve as a useful drug for osteoporosis.

Historical Research on Costume of Main Characters in the Movie 〈Masquerade〉

The results of an examination of the early 17 th century costume of king, Queen, Doseungji(都承旨), and Dobujang(都部將), the main characters in the movie are as follows. First, at the early of the 17 th century, the position of the kings royal bodyguards(侍衛武士) should be Pachong(把摠). The kings escort should be accompanied by the right amount of military. Second, The king dressed in a king’s crown(翼善冠) and dragon robe(袞龍袍) as a everyday uniform. The front part of man’s headband(網巾) is wide, decorated with unsculptured jade button. King’s crown has a low crown. Inside of dragon robe, king wore a Jingnyeong(直領) and a Cheolrik(天翼). Dragon patterns(龍補) were weaved, it’s the diameter was maybe 34 ㎝. Belt shape was round and separable which was decorated with sculptured jade. King wore black leather boots with socks made of leather. Third, Doseungji wore official’s black robe(黑團領) in the royal palace and wore everyday clothes(便服) in outside the palace. Doseungji’s black robe consisted of official’s hat(紗帽), official’s black robe, silver pheasant patterned insignia(白鷳胸背), silver ranking belt and black leather boots. Silver pheasant patterned insignia was embroidered, it’s the size was maybe 34×34 ㎝. Doseungji’s everyday clothes consisted of man’s hat(黑笠), Jingnyeong, Jungchimak(中赤莫), red flat waist cord, tail-shaped leggings and cloud patterned shoes. Man’s hat has a low crown and the top is not flat. King’s royal bodyguards wore Yungbok(戎服) for Danghagwan(堂下官). It consisted of man’s hat, greyish blue Cheolrik, blue flat waist cord and black leather boots. The ratio of Cheolrik’s top to skirt was 1:1.55. Queen’s hair style decorated false hairpiece(加髢). Queen’s everyday clothes consisted of short Jeogori(赤古里), Dangui(唐衣), skirt and accessories. The costume of the queen in the movie was more creative than historical research. It is because of the image in the movie and the eye level of modern audiences.

The Convergence Study of Predictors of Food Addition among Nursing Students

This purpose of this study was to identify predictors and rate of food addiction among nursing students by using YFAS (Yale Food Addiction Scale) which is proven to be reliable and valid as an instrument for evaluating food addiction. In this study, data collection was from Nov. 19, 2015 to Nov. 25, 2015 in K and C university located in Changwon. We enrolled 145 nursing students. Our findings showed that the food addiction in nursing students is likely to occur when they are depressed 6.03 times more than when they are not depressed. Therefore, to maintain and enhance the physical and mental health of nursing students who are preliminary nurses, their awareness of food addiction should be promoted and it also seems to be necessary to develop food addiction prevention programs including depression, which turned out to be the predictor of food addiction as well as foods. •