Walnut extract exhibits anti-fatigue action via improvement of exercise tolerance in mice / 한국실험동물학회지

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-fatigue effect of walnut extract (WE) on forced swimming capacity in mice. Twenty-eight male ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups, a vehicle control (VC) or one of three WE administered groups (300, 600 and 900 mg/kg/day). WE was orally administered to mice once a day for 4 weeks, during which time a forced swimming test was conducted once a week. The vehicle control group was given a corresponding volume of sterile distilled water. After 4 weeks, the forced swimming capacity and levels of blood lactate, glucose, glutamine, ammonia and triacylglycerol, and liver glycogen were measured. In the WE administration group (600 and 900 mg/kg) the maximum swimming time increased significantly when compared with the vehicle control group. WE (600 and 900 mg/kg) significantly decreased the levels of lactate andammonia and increased the blood glutamine levels and liver glycogen content after forced swimming relative to the vehicle control group. The results of this study demonstrated the anti-fatigue effects of WE in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of WE at 600 and 900 mg/kg were similar. Overall, these results suggest that walnut has anti-fatigue activity and could elevate exercise tolerance.

Inhibitory Effects of Korean Red Ginseng Extract on Atopic Dermatitis in NC/Nga Mice / 한국실험동물학회지

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic eczematous skin disease attended by pruritus, erythema, edema, excoriation, and dryness. This study was to evaluate the effects of Korean red ginseng (RG) on AD in NC/Nga mice treated with 1-chloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (picryl chloride; PC). Experimental groups were divided into 4 groups; normal control (NC), PC control, and PC-RG (50 and 100 mg/kg). RG was orally administered every day repeatedly during 6 weeks. The skin lesions in severity score, scratching behavior, serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels, and histological appearance were examined. AD-like lesions were developed on the NC/Nga mice by topical PC applications. Oral administration of RG (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the development of AD, as analyzed by a modified SCORAD score. The scratching behavior decreased after RG administration. The levels of serum IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma were increased by PC stimulation, but treatment with RG (100 mg/kg) suppressed the increment of the serum IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma levels. Histologically, RG inhibited dermatitis lesions such as hypertrophy, hyperkeratosis, and infiltration of inflammatory cells into epidermis and dermis. These results suggest that the administration of RG may be effective in alleviating the AD induced by PC.

Inhibitory Effects of Korean Red Ginseng Extract on Atopic Dermatitis in NC/Nga Mice / 한국실험동물학회지

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic eczematous skin disease attended by pruritus, erythema, edema, excoriation, and dryness. This study was to evaluate the effects of Korean red ginseng (RG) on AD in NC/Nga mice treated with 1-chloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (picryl chloride; PC). Experimental groups were divided into 4 groups; normal control (NC), PC control, and PC-RG (50 and 100 mg/kg). RG was orally administered every day repeatedly during 6 weeks. The skin lesions in severity score, scratching behavior, serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels, and histological appearance were examined. AD-like lesions were developed on the NC/Nga mice by topical PC applications. Oral administration of RG (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the development of AD, as analyzed by a modified SCORAD score. The scratching behavior decreased after RG administration. The levels of serum IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma were increased by PC stimulation, but treatment with RG (100 mg/kg) suppressed the increment of the serum IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma levels. Histologically, RG inhibited dermatitis lesions such as hypertrophy, hyperkeratosis, and infiltration of inflammatory cells into epidermis and dermis. These results suggest that the administration of RG may be effective in alleviating the AD induced by PC.

Effects of Pine Needle Ethyl Acetate Fraction on Acetylcholine(ACh) and Its Related Enzymes in Brain of Rats

This study was designed to investigate the effects of ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb et Zucc) needle on cholesterol and lipofuscin (LF) accumulations, acetylcholine (ACh) and its related enzyme activities such as choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity, which destroyed the catecholamine related neurotransmitters in brain membranes of Sprague- Dawley (SD) rats. Male SD rats were fed basic diets (control group) and experimental diets (EtOAc-25, EtOAc-50 and EtOAc-100) for 45 days. Cholesterol accumulations in mitochondria and microsomes were significantly inhibited (11.8 - 12.1% and 9.6 - 13.0%, respectvely) in EtOAc-50 and EtOAc-100 groups. ACh levels and ChAT activities were significantly increased about 10% in membranes of EtOAc-100 group compared with control group. AChE activities were significantly increased about 8 - 12% in membranes of EtOAc-50 and EtOAc-100 groups compared with control group. MAO-B activities were significantly inhibited about 10% in membrane of EtOAc-100 group compared with control group. These results suggest that ethyl acetate fraction of pine needle may play an effective role in inhibiting cholesterol and improving a membrane fluidity, and learning and memory impairments.

Effects of Pine Needle Butanol Fraction on Acetylcholine (ACh) and Its Related Enzymes in Brain of Rats

This study was designed to investigate the effects of buthanol (BuOH) fraction of pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb et Zucc) needle on cholesterol and lipofuscin (LF) accumulations, acetylcholine (ACh) and its related enzyme activities such as choline acetyltransferase (CAhT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and monoamone oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity, which destroyed the catecholamine-related neurotransmitters in brain membranes of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Male SD rats were fed basic diets (control group) or experimental diets (BuOH-25, BuOH-50 and BuOH-100) for 45 days. Cholesterol accumulations in mitochondria and microsomes were significantly inhibited (about 14 - 17% and 23 - 34%, respectvely) in BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups, whereas LF levels were significantly inhibited (about 10 - 14%) in BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups compared with control group. ACh levels and ChAT activities were significantly increased (about 11 - 17% and 11 - 23%, respectively) in membranes of BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups compared with control group. AChE activities were significantly increased (about 14 - 17%) in membranes of BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups. There was no significant difference in MAO-B activities between control and experimental diet groups. The results suggest that butanol fraction of pine needle may play an effective role in an antiaging effect and improving a learning and memory impairments.

Hypertrophy of the Patellar Tendon induced by Local Injection of TGF-beta1 in Mature Rats / 대한정형외과연구학회지

PURPOSE: The effects of local injection of TGF-beta1 on the normal patellar tendon and the characteristics of remaining tendon after the partial resection of hypertrophic one were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TGF-beta1 was injected into the right patellar tendon of mature rats weekly for 3 weeks. Histological study, biomechanical analysis and the transmission electron microscopic evaluation were done. Half of hypertrophic tendon was resected at 4 weeks after the last injection and the same analyses were RESULTS: TGF-beta1 treated tendon increased in cross sectional area but decreased significantly in maximum tensile stress. The hypertrophic tissue was mainly composed of small collagen fibrils. After the partial resection of hypertrophic tendon, there was no significant difference in maximum tensile stress between remaining and control tendons. There were relatively larger collagen fibrils in the remaining tendon tissue than in non-resected hypertrophic one. CONCLUSION: Local injection of TGF-beta1 induced the hypertrophy of normal tendon. After the partial resection of hypertrophic tendon, the remaining one showed the more similar biomechanical properties to normal one.

Comparative Analysis of Medial Collateral Ligament Grade III injury of the Knee / 대한정형외과학회잡지

The medial collateral ligament is the most commonly injured ligamentous structure of the knee and it has been demonstrated that this ligament is the prime static stabilizer of the medial side of the knee joint. The management of the medial collateral ligament injuries were divided into surgical and conservative treatment. Many investigators reported consistently good to excellent results following surgical treatment. More recently, other investigators reported that isolated medial collateral ligament injuries did equally well under non-operative as operative treatment. For accurate diagnosis, arthroscopic examination of the knee to rule out other intraarticular pathologic conditions such as cruciate ligament injuries, maniscal tears and bony injuries is essential. From October 1988 to January 1991, we treated 76 cases of isolated medial collateral ligament injuries which was confirmed by diagnostic arthroscopy. Among them, we analyzed 31 cases that minimum follow-up was over 1 year and could be re-examed, 20 cases were treated with surgery and 11 cases were not. With comparision between initial and final follow-up stress X-ray, 5.45 ± 3.17mm in non-operative group had improved in medial laxity(P 0.05). In conclusion, medial stability was improved in operative than in non-operative group, however functional score was equally well under non-operative as operative treatment.