Aqueous extract of Liriope platyphylla, a traditional Chinese medicine, significantly inhibits abdominal fat accumulation and improves glucose regulation in OLETF type II diabetes model rats / 한국실험동물학회지

Liriope platyphylla is a medical herb that has long been used in Korea and China to treat cough, sputum, neurodegenerative disorders, obesity, and diabetes. The aims of this study were to determine the antidiabetic and antiobesity effects of aqueous extract of L. platyphylla (AEtLP) through glucose and lipid regulation in both pre-diabetes and obesity stage of type II diabetes model. Two concentrations of AEtLP were orally administrated to OLETF (Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty) rats once a day for 2 weeks, after which changes in glucose metabolism and fat accumulation were measured. Abdominal fat mass dramatically decreased in AEtLP-treated OLETF rats, whereas glucose concentration slightly decreased in all AEtLP-treated rats. However, compared to vehicle-treated OLETF rats, only AEtLP10 (10% concentration)-treated OLETF rats displayed significant induction of insulin production, whereas AEtLP5 (5% concentration)-treated OLETF rats showed a lower level of insulin. Although serum adiponectin level increased in only AEtLP5-treated rats, significant alteration of lipid concentration was detected in AEtLP5-treated OLETF rats. Expression of Glut-1 decreased in all AEtLP-treated rats, whereas Akt phosphorylation increased only in AEtLP10-treated OLETF rats. Furthermore, the pattern of Glut-3 expression was very similar with that of Glut-1 expression, which roughly corresponded with the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-teminal kinase (JNK) and p38 in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Therefore, these findings suggest that AEtLP should be considered as a therapeutic candidate during pre-diabetes and obesity stage capable of inducing insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells, glucose uptake in liver cells, as well as a decrease in fat and lipid accumulation.

Effects of Steaming Time and Frequency for Manufactured Red Liriope platyphylla on the Insulin Secretion Ability and Insulin Receptor Signaling Pathway / 한국실험동물학회지

In oriental medicine, Liriope platyphylla (LP) has long been regarded as a curative herb useful for the treatment of diabetes, asthma, and neurodegenerative disorders. The principal objective of this study was to assess the effects of steaming time and frequency for manufactured Red LP (RLP) on insulin secretion ability and insulin receptor signaling pathway. To achieve our goal, several types of LPs manufactured under different conditions were applied to INS cells and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic ICR mice, after which alterations in insulin concentrations were detected in the culture supernatants and sera. The optimal concentration for the investigation of insulin secretion ability was found to be 50 ug/mL of LP. At this concentration, maximum insulin secretion was observed in the INS cells treated with LP extract steamed for 3 h (3-SLP) with two repeated steps (3 h steaming and 24 h air-dried) carried out 9 times (9-SALP); no significant changes in viability were detected in any of the treated cells. Additionally, the expression and phosphorylation levels of most components in the insulin receptor signaling pathway were increased significantly in the majority of cells treated with steaming-processed LP as compared to the cells treated with LP prepared without steaming. With regard to glucose transporter (GLUT) expression, alterations of steaming time induced similar responses on the expression levels of GLUT-2 and GLUT-3. However, differences in steaming frequency were also shown to induce dose-dependent responses in the expression level of GLUT-2 only; no significant differences in GLUT-3 expression were detected under these conditions. Furthermore, these responses observed in vitro were similarly detected in STZ-induced diabetic mice. 24-SLP and 9-SALP treatment applied for 14 days induced the down-regulation of glucose concentration and upregulation of insulin concentration. Therefore, these results indicated that the steaming processed LP may contribute to the relief of diabetes symptoms and should be regarded as an excellent candidate for a diabetes treatment.

Topical Application of Selenium Can Significantly Relieve UV-induced Skin Aging in Hairless Mice / 한국실험동물학회지

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is an environmental factor that causes skin aging, and is also a major factor leading to cumulative alterations of skin structure, function and appearance. To investigate the effects of Selenium (Sel) on UV-induced skin aging, hairless mice were treated for 4 weeks with UV irradiation and topical application of Sel. Then, the effects of Sel were measured in the skin of these mice via histological analysis and Western blotting. According to the results of wrinkle formation analysis, the topical application of Sel induced a reduction in wrinkling formation in the damaged skin of the UV-irradiated mice. Additionally, our histological analysis demonstrated that the skin thickness in the Sel-treated group was less than in the UV-irradiated group. Furthermore, in an effort to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of Sel, the expression levels of matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) and MAPK protein were assessed in both groups. The application of Sel induced a reduction in MMP-1 expression levels to the levels observed in the non-irradiated group. However, the expression level of MMP-9 was increased slightly in the Sel application group as compared with the vehicle application group. Additionally, the levels of ERK phosphorylation were increased by the application of Sel, but the levels of JNK and p38 were not altered by Sel treatment. These results suggest the possibility that Sel should be considered as a skin aging-protective and therapeutic drug candidate, which functions via the regulation of MMP expression levels.

The Symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis in NC/Nga Mice Were Significantly Relieved by the Water Extract of Liriope platyphylla / 한국실험동물학회지

Atopic dermatitis is an well-known skin disease showing inflammatory, chronically relapsing, non-contagious and pruritic symptoms. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of Liriope platyphylla (LP) on atopic dermatitis of NC/Nga mice. To achieve this, NC/Nga mice were treated with four different conditions including vehicle, phthalic anhydride (PA), PA+5% LP and PA+10% LP, and the changes of immune-related factors were detected after 2 weeks. The pathological phenotypes of atopic dermatitis such as erythema, ear thickness, edema, scab and discharge were significantly decreased in PA+10% LP cotreated groups compare to PA treated group. Also, the weight of lymph node and thymus in immune organs were gradually decreased in LP treated groups, while the weight of spleen was slightly increased in same group. Furthermore, toluidine blue staining analysis, a method used to specifically identify the mast cell, showed that the decrease of master cell infiltration into the dermis were statistically observed in PA+5% LP and PA+10% LP5% cotreated groups. Especially, the decrease of IgE concentration was detected only PA+10% LP cotreated group, although this level was maintained in PA+5% LP cotreated group. Therefore, these results suggested that the water extracts of LP may contribute the relieve of atopic dermatitis symptoms and be considered as an excellent candidate for a atopic dermatitis-therapeutic drug.

Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma with Mammographic 'Halo Sign' Correlation with Histopathology

PURPOSE: To analyze and correlate mammographic/ sonographic features with pathologic findings in patientswith infiltrative ductal carcinoma with the mammographic 'halo sign'. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectivelyreviewed 27 cases of surgically confirmed infiltrative ductal breast carcinoma with the mammographic 'halo sign',analysing the mammographic/sonographic findings, clinical records and pathologic findings. RESULTS: Twenty-sevenpatients with infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma with the mammographic 'halo sign' were aged 32-72 (mean 49+/-12)years. For periods of between 2 days and 5 months(mean, 1.9 months), all had complained of a palpable mass.Histologic sections indicated parenchymal compression(27/27), microscopic infiltration of tumor margin(11/27) andparenchymal fat compression(15/27), without a true capsule. Infiltrating ductal carcinomas with the mammographic'halo sign' were nuclear grade 1 (17/27) or histologic grade III (14/27). Mammography (complete halo:3;partialhalo:24) showed a round(15/27) or macrolobulated (9/27) mass (size : 2.5+/-1cm) which showed partialspiculation(17/27) or-rarely-calcification(2/27). Sonography revealed a hypoechoic mass with a thinboundary(13/15);in five of these 13 cases, pathologic examination revealed microscopic infiltration of the tumormargin. Bilateral shadowing (8/15), posterior enhancement(13/15), and heterogeneous internal echogenicity(13/15)were also noted on sonography. CONCLUSION: When correlated with the histopathologic findings, infiltrating ductalbreast carcinoma with the 'halo sign' showed a relatively poor pathologic grade, which is known to be one of theprognostic factors. Surrounding parenchyma and fat compression at the margin of a tumor are considered to be oneof the causes of the mammographic 'halo sign'.

CT and MR Findings of Kimura's Disease in the Head and Neck

PURPOSE: Kimura's disease is an inflammatory condition of unknown etiology which usually occurs in salivary glands and cervical lymph nodes. This study was undertaken to evaluate the radiologic characteristics of Kimura's disease using CT and MRI. MATERIALS & METHODS: We evaluated CT & MR of 10 patients with histologically proved Kimura's disease in the head and neck. Six males and four females between 16 and 58 years old (mean age, 37.6 years) were included. Contrast enhanced CT scan was performed in all, and spin-echo MRI was performed in 2 patients. RESULTS: Both CT and MRI demonstrated the distinctive sites of involvement that were major salivary glands (4 cases) and lacrimal gland (1 case), periglandular soft tissue (8 cases), and cervical lymph nodes (8 cases). Majority of soft tissue lesions were ill-defined with infiltration to adjacent fascial planes, but nodal lesions were relatively well-defined and homogenous. The lesions were iso-intense on Tl-weighted image and hyper-intense on T2-weighted image. All but a few nodal lesions showed variable degree of contrast enhancement on CT and MRI. CONCLUSION: In diagnosis of Kimura's disease, CT & MRI of head & neck, especially salivary glands, are useful. In cases of recurrent periglandular soft tissue mass with contrast-enhancing cervical lymphadenopathy in adult patients, Kimura's disease should be included in the differential diagnosis.

CT Findings of Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma

PURPOSE: We studied CT findings of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma that manifestated varied clinical and radiologic characteristics. MATERIALS & METHODS: We studied presenting radiographic patterns and their characteristics and secondary findings of histologically proven 30 cases of bronchioloalveolar carcinomas on chest CT scan. RESULTS: Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma appeared radiologically as a solitary nodule(19 cases), consolidation (7 cases), and multinodules(4 cases). A solitary nodular type shows irregular or spiculated borders, peripheral or subpleural location, heterogenous density, pleural tags, pseudocavitation, and sometimes rim-enhancement of mass. A consolidation type shows air-brochogram, pseudocavitation and CT anglogram within homogenous low attenuated consolidated lung. Hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy as secondary findings of bronchioloalveolar carcioma appeared frequently(43.3%). Even in a solitary nodular form, hilar & mediastinal lymphadenopathy was noted in 36.8% and follow-up study in 6 cases showed lung-to-lung metastasis with 14.7 months in mean metastasis duration. CONCLUSION: It is difficulty in diagnosis of bronchioloalveolar carcioma with clinical or plain radiographic features alone because of theis variability. We found that CT scan can help the diagnosis of this tumor. We also found out that a solitary form of bronchioloalveolar carcioma as well as diffuse form does not have a good prognosis.