Stimulation of keratinocyte differentiation by extract of combined medicinal plant / 동물의과학연구지

Skin is the outermost organ and acts as a barrier between the organism and environment. Skin protects the organism from environmental insults, such as chemicals, pathogens, and UV light. Much of the protective function of skin is dependent on the epidermis, a multi-layered epithelium that is composed of various cell types such as keratinocytes and melanocytes. Keratinocytes produce protective components through a sophisticated differentiation process. Disturbance of keratinocyte differentiation is related to several skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In this study, we prepared extract of combined medicinal plants (ECMP) consisting of Taraxacum platycarpum H. Dahlstedt, Heartleaf Houttuynia, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer, and root bark of Ulmus davidiana. We demonstrated that ECMP enhanced keratinocyte differentiation and barrier functionality using an in vitro cell culture system and in vivo animal test. Treatment of cultured keratinocytes with ECMP resulted in induction of keratinocyte differentiation, as evidenced by increased differentiation markers such as involucrin, loricrin, and filaggrin. In line with these results, ECMP decreased proliferation of keratinocytes cultured in vitro. ECMP applied topically to tape-stripped mouse skins accelerated reduction of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), indicating fast recovery of barrier function. Immunohistochemistry showed that ECMP increased the filaggrin level in tape-stripped mouse skins. These results suggest that ECMP may be applicable for keratinocyte differentiation-related skin diseases.

Reliability of Dynamic Posturography with Unstable Platform to Evaluate Seated Postural Control

OBJECTIVE: To examine the repeatability and the reproducibility of a new evaluation system for seated postural control. METHOD: A total of 30 healthy volunteers (12 male, 18 female, mean age 25.1+/-3.4) participated in this study: 15 for repeatability and 15 for reproducibility study. We invented a new device for the assessment of seated postural control. The device was consisted of unstable platform, force plate, frame, safety harness, monitor and computer. Force plate on unstable platform measured the center of pressure (COP) of subject. COP maintaining time, COP moving time and COP sine curve trace were recorded. Each subject was tested three times with an interval of 3 days between the test sessions. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between male and female in each parameter. There were no significant differences in COP maintaining time, COP moving time and COP sine curve trace when tested repetitively. ICC for both the repeatability and the reproducibility showed good to excellent reliability for all variables (ICC, 0.60~0.99) except posterior and right-posterior moving time. CONCLUSION: This newly designed system for seated postural control using unstable platform proved to be a reliable tool. It may be a useful method to assess the seated postural control.

Analysis The Prognostic Factors of Alopecia Areata / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata usually has a complete recovery rate in most patients, but others eventually develop the severe chronic form. Unfortunately, its course and response rates are variable and unpredictable. OBJECTIVE: To identify patient and treatment factors predictive of therapeutic success and to develop a practical model for predicting patient response. METHODS: The medical records of 189 patients with alopecia areata from 1998 to 2001 at the Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National university hospital were reviewed. Most patients were treated by corticosteroids (topical, intralesional, and systemic). RESULTS: Variables independently associated with clinically significant regrowth were the duration between initiation of therapy, baseline extent of alopecia areata. 1. Both partial response and no response (PR+NR): long duration between initiation of therapy (>3month; especially >12 months), baseline extent of alopecia areata (>25%; especially 100%- alopecia totalis and universalis) and male patients. 2. Duration between initiation of therapy: Cosmetically acceptable hair regrowth was obtained in 6% of patients over 12 months, 57% with 4 to 12 months and 97% 0 to 3 months. So, it is better to start treating within 3 months; and at least within 12 months. 3. Baseline extent of alopecia areata: Cosmetically acceptable hair regrowth was obtained in 27% of patients with alopecia totalis/universalis, 64% with 26 to 99%, and 94% with below 25% alopecia areata. So, it showed a good response when below 25 %, but a poor response at above 25%, specially for 100%. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that when the duration between initiation of therapy (>12 months) and the baseline extent of alopecia areata increases, the therapeutic effect decreases. A predictive model (decision tree) has been developed to assist with patient prognostication and counseling.

Immunohistochemical Study of Differential Expression of Transglutaminase 1 in the Rat / 대한해부학회지

Transglutaminase is an calcium depedent enzyme involved in various biological events such as cell growth and proliferation, apoptosis, fertilization, embryogenesis, and carcinogenesis. Biochemically it can be detected in many organs but no systemic in situ localization has been carried out so far. Here we report the immunohistochemical localization of TG1 in rat tissue using newly purificated polyclonal anti-goat traglutaminase 1 antibody. The presence of TG 1 can be demonstrated in the kidney, liver, spleen, lung, esophagus, trachea, small intestine, testis, cerebellum of the rat. The strong immunoreactivity can be demonstrated in proximal convoluted tubule and collecting duct of the kidney, central vein of the liver, esophagus of the lamina propria, epithelium and cartilage of the trachea., submucosa and Paneth cell of the small intestine, Purkinje cell of the cerebellum. Among organs, there was no relationship between the immunoreactivity and histologic similarity. The functional implications of these findings are presently unknown. However, based on its wide distribution of the tissue certain essential role of this enzyme in survival of organism may be suggested.