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Yunsung Nam, Yoon Hee Chung,
Li Ying Chu,
Ho Sung Lee,
Eon Sub Park,
Kwang Woo Hwang,
Dong-Seok Kim,
Hyeong-Dong Kim,
Hyun Dong Je,
Yong Kyoo Shin,
Ji Hoon Jeong
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ABSTRACT: AIMS: Phragmites rhizoma was reported to have anti-oxidative and free radical scavenging activity. It also has been traditionally used to suppress inflammation. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the topical effects of the polysaccharide-rich extract of Phragmites rhizoma (PEP) on atopic dermatitis. MAIN METHODS: We induced AD-like skin lesions by an extract of the house-dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae (Dfb) in NC/Nga mice, and then performed macroscopic analysis, immunohistochemical staining and measurement of total serum IgE and cytokine production by ELISA. KEY FINDINGS: Topically applied PEP suppressed dermatitis with a decrease in dermatitis score and scratch number. The histological manifestations of atopic skin lesions including thickened epidermis and increased numbers of mast cells, polymorphonuclear leukocytes and nerve fibers were significantly attenuated. The activation of IgE and the levels of cytokines such as IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 were also decreased. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results indicated that PEP might have an inhibitory effect on atopic dermatitis-like lesion and be a promising natural resource in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
Life sciences 03/2013; · 2.56 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Momordicae Semen, Momordica cochinchinensis Springer (Cucurbitaceae), has long been known to effectively relieve boils, rheumatic pain, and hemorrhoids. In this study, we investigated whether Momordicae Semen extract (MSE) has anti-gastritis effects in various rodent models and also explored possible mechanisms for the gastroprotective effects of MSE. MSE provided remarkable protective effects, comparable to those of rebamipide, in ethanol- and diclofenac-induced acute gastritis. In addition, it has demonstrated protective effect in a Helicobacter pylori-insulted chronic gastritis model. MSE also showed wound healing effect on cutaneous injury of mice and stimulated calcitonin gene-related peptide and somatostatin receptors, which may be related to its anti-gastritis effects. In a single oral dose toxicity study, the approximate lethal dose of MSE was determined at >2000 mg/kg/day. The NOAEL was set to be 2000 mg/kg/day from the repeated oral dose toxicity study. Moreover, momordica saponin I, a major ingredient of MSE, treatment decreased gastric mucosa damage indices in the ethanol- and diclofenac-induced acute gastritis models. The results suggest that MSE could be a promising gastroprotective herbal medicine and momordica saponin I might be used as an active marker compound for MSE.
Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology 08/2012; · 1.83 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In the present study, we performed immunohistochemical studies to investigate the changes of insulin-like growth factor binding
protein 2 (IGFBP2) in the central nervous system of SOD1G93A mutant transgenic mice as an in vivo model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Decreased immunoreactivity for IGFBP2
was observed in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and brainstem of SOD1G93A transgenic mice. In the cerebral cortex, the number of IGFBP2-positive cells was decreased in the somatomotor area, somatosensory
area, auditory area, visual area, entorhinal area, piriform area and prefrontal area. In the hippocampal formation, IGFBP2
immunoreactivity was significantly decreased in the CA1-3 areas and the dentate gyrus. In the brainstem, few IGFBP2-immunoreactive
cells were observed in the medullary and pontine reticular formation, vestibular nucleus, trigeminal motor nucleus, facial
nucleus, hypoglossal nucleus and raphe nucleus. In the spinal cord, IGFBP2 immunoreactivity was not significantly decreased
in SOD1G93A transgenic mice. This study showing decreased IGFBP2 in different brain regions of SOD1G93A transgenic mice may provide clues for understanding differential susceptibility of neural structures in ALS.
Journal of Molecular Histology 04/2012; 40(2):157-163. · 1.48 Impact Factor
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Sung In Cho,
Yun Sung Nam,
Li Ying Chu,
Jong Hyuk Lee,
Joon Seok Bang,
Hye Ryoun Kim,
Hyoung-Chun Kim,
Yu Jeung Lee,
Hyeong-Dong Kim,
Jung Duk Sul,
Daejin Kim, Yoon Hee Chung,
Ji Hoon Jeong
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ABSTRACT: Our previous study has shown that an extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) induces nitric oxide (NO) synthesis by Ca(2+) -dependent NO synthase (NOS) in rat brain. The present study was designed to confirm that ELF-MF affects neuronal NOS (nNOS) in several brain regions and to investigate the correlation between NO and nNOS activation. The exposure of rats to a 2 mT, 60 Hz ELF-MF for 5 days resulted in increases of NO levels in parallel with cGMP elevations in the cerebral cortex, striatum, and hippocampus. Cresyl violet staining and electron microscopic evaluation revealed that there were no significant differences in the morphology and number of neurons in the cerebral cortex, striatum, and hippocampus. Differently, the numbers of nNOS-immunoreactive (IR) neurons were significantly increased in those cerebral areas in ELF-MF-exposed rats. These data suggest that the increase in NO could be due to the increased expression and activation of nNOS in cells. Based on NO signaling in physiological and pathological states, ELF-MF created by electric power systems may induce various physiological changes in modern life. Bioelectromagnetics 33:568-574, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bioelectromagnetics 04/2012; 33(7):568-74. · 1.84 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Owing to the poor prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer, new treatment strategies immediately need to be developed. Although several immunotherapeutic approaches have been examined for the treatment of advanced stage ovarian cancer, their implementation in clinical practice remains low. We previously showed doxorubicin-treated murine ovarian cancer cells [murine ovarian surface epithelial cells (MOSECs)] are able to deliver drug to adjacent cells in vivo to eradicate tumor cells. In this study, we hypothesized that irradiated tumor cell treated with anticancer drugs may kill other cancer cell by cell to cell contact and also by generating antitumor immune responses. The MOSECs treated with anticancer drugs (doxorubicin and cisplatin) died through apoptosis, and this was increased in accordance with the dose of drug. The cleaved caspase-3 expression was significantly increased in the MOSECs coexposed with doxorubicin and cisplatin. Anticancer drug-treated MOSECs generated MOSEC-specific CD4 T-cell immune responses. Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells expressed upregulated IL-12p40 mRNA but IL-6 and IL-10 mRNA downregulated after coculture with MOSECs cotreated with doxorubicin and cisplatin. Furthermore, the mice vaccinated with MOSECs cotreated with doxorubicin and cisplatin had enhanced antitumor immunity and prolonged survival. We also observed that CD4 T cells and natural killer cells are essential for the antitumor immunity generated by vaccination with anticancer drug-loaded MOSECs. These findings suggest that irradiated MOSECs treated with anticancer drugs could be a new immune-therapeutic strategy against advanced ovarian cancers.
Journal of immunotherapy (Hagerstown, Md.: 1997) 11/2011; 35(1):1-13. · 3.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane proteins (Omps) have an important role in pathogenesis and signal reception. We previously reported that Acinetobacter OmpA (AbOmpA) induced maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and that AbOmpA-primed DCs produced IL-12 which generated Th1 CD4(+) T-cells. We analyzed the effects of Salmonella typhimurium OmpA (OmpA-Sal) on dendritic cell (DC) maturation in the present study, and determined that tumor antigen-pulsed DCs stimulated with OmpA-Sal induced anti-tumor responses in a mouse model. OmpA-Sal activated BMDCs by augmenting expression of MHC class II and of the co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86. RT-PCR revealed that IL-12(p40) gene expression is highly augmented in OmpA-Sal-stimulated BMDCs. DNA (CRT/E7) vaccination combined with OmpA-Sal stimulation generated more antigen-specific CD8(+) T-cells in the present study. Certain antigen-pulsed BMDCs stimulated with OmpA-Sal induced strong PADRE-specific CD4(+) and E7-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses. In addition, BMDCs stimulated with OmpA-Sal (OmpA-Sal-BMDCs) and pulsed with both E7 and PADRE peptide generated greater numbers of E7-specific CD8(+) effector and memory T-cells than those pulsed with E7 peptide alone. E7- and PADRE-expressing OmpA-Sal-BMDC vaccines resulted in significant long-term protective anti-tumor effects in vaccinated mice. Our data suggested that E7- and PADRE-expressing BMDCs that were matured in the presence of OmpA-Sal might enhance anti-tumor immunity and support the therapeutic use of OmpA-Sal in DC-based immunotherapy.
Vaccine 01/2011; 29(13):2400-10. · 3.77 Impact Factor
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Kijeong Kim,
Charles H Brenner,
Victor H Mair,
Kwang-Ho Lee,
Jae-Hyun Kim,
Eregzen Gelegdorj,
Natsag Batbold,
Yi-Chung Song,
Hyeung-Won Yun,
Eun-Jeong Chang, [......],
Ae-Ja Park,
Inja Lim,
Yun-Pyo Hong,
Wonyong Kim,
Sang-In Chung,
Dae-Jin Kim, Yoon-Hee Chung,
Sung-Su Kim,
Won-Bok Lee,
Kyung-Yong Kim
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ABSTRACT: We analyzed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome single nucleotide polymorphisms (Y-SNP), and autosomal short tandem repeats (STR) of three skeletons found in a 2,000-year-old Xiongnu elite cemetery in Duurlig Nars of Northeast Mongolia. This study is one of the first reports of the detailed genetic analysis of ancient human remains using the three types of genetic markers. The DNA analyses revealed that one subject was an ancient male skeleton with maternal U2e1 and paternal R1a1 haplogroups. This is the first genetic evidence that a male of distinctive Indo-European lineages (R1a1) was present in the Xiongnu of Mongolia. This might indicate an Indo-European migration into Northeast Asia 2,000 years ago. Other specimens are a female with mtDNA haplogroup D4 and a male with Y-SNP haplogroup C3 and mtDNA haplogroup D4. Those haplogroups are common in Northeast Asia. There was no close kinship among them. The genetic evidence of U2e1 and R1a1 may help to clarify the migration patterns of Indo-Europeans and ancient East-West contacts of the Xiongnu Empire. Artifacts in the tombs suggested that the Xiongnu had a system of the social stratification. The West Eurasian male might show the racial tolerance of the Xiongnu Empire and some insight into the Xiongnu society.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology 07/2010; 142(3):429-40. · 2.82 Impact Factor
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Jae Yeo Park,
Dong-Hoon Jin,
Chang-Min Lee,
Min Ja Jang,
Sun Young Lee,
Hyo Seon Shin, Yoon Hee Chung,
Kyung Yong Kim,
Sung Su Kim,
Won Bok Lee,
Yong Kyoo Shin,
Wang Jae Lee,
Yeong-Min Park,
Daejin Kim
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ABSTRACT: The requirement for CD4 T cells in priming and maintaining cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses presents a long-standing paradox in cellular immunology. In this study, we used sequential coadministration of a DNA vaccine encoding an invariant (Ii) chain in which the class II-associated Ii-peptide region is replaced with CD4 T-helper epitope, PADRE [Pan human leukocyte antigen-DR reactive epitope (Ii-PADRE)] or Bcl-xL with a DNA vaccine encoding Sig/E7/LAMP-1 to verify the role of CD4 T cells for the generation of effectors and memory E7-specific CD8 T-cell immune responses. Sequential vaccination, with Ii-PADRE+Sig/E7/LAMP-1 priming followed by Bcl-xL+Sig/E7/LAMP-1 boosting led to generation of E7-specific CD8 T cells, and was nearly equivalent in effect to coadministration with Ii-PADRE+Sig/E7/LAMP-1 or Bcl-xL+Sig/E7/LAMP-1 at both prime and boost. The mice vaccinated with the Ii-PADRE+Sig/E7/LAMP-1 prime-Bcl-xL+Sig/E7/LAMP-1 boost regimen exhibited better long-term E7-specific immune responses and tumor prevention effects in vivo than the mice vaccinated with the reverse sequential coadministration. After CD4 T-cell depletion, mice primed with Ii-PADRE+Sig/E7/LAMP-1 generated low numbers of E7-specific CD8 T cells and suppressed long-term memory CD8 T-cell response regardless of the sequence or combination of DNA vaccines administered. Mice primed with Bcl-xL+Sig/E7/LAMP-1 only suppressed long-term memory CD8 T-cell response after depletion of CD4 T cells before priming. Our findings suggest that activated CD4 T cells at prime phase are important to generate the antigen-specific CD8 T-cell immune responses and CD4 T cells, which are naive or activated, play a role to maintain the long-term memory responses.
Journal of immunotherapy (Hagerstown, Md.: 1997) 06/2010; 33(5):510-22. · 3.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Nitric Oxide (NO) actively participates in the regulation of neuronal intracellular Ca(2+) levels by modulating the activity of various channels and receptors. To test the possibility that modulation of Ca(2+) buffer protein expression level by NO participates in this regulatory effect, we examined expression of calbindin-D28k, calretinin, and parvalbumin in the cerebellum of neuronal NO synthase knock-out (nNOS((-/-))) mice using immunohistochemistry. We observed that in the cerebellar cortex of the nNOS((-/-)) mice, expression of calbindin-D28k and parvalbumin were significantly increased while expression of calretinin was significantly decreased. These results suggest another mechanism by which NO can participate in the regulation of Ca(2+) homeostasis.
Anatomy & cell biology 03/2010; 43(1):64-71.
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ABSTRACT: Chemotherapy agents have adverse immunotherapeutic effects secondary to inhibition of hematopoietic stem cell proliferation, particularly in committed lymphoblast. Certain anti-cancer drugs have immuno-modulatory properties, although mechanisms are still not fully understood. In the current study, we explored the effects of doxorubicin on peripheral blood CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell responses pre- and post-stimulation. Doxorubicin treatment alone had no effects on peripheral blood T lymphocytes and regulatory T-cells in vivo and in vitro. However, CD4(+) T-cells were resistant to doxorubicin and demonstrated more robust proliferation than CD8(+) T-cells after doxorubicin pre-treatment. CD40 ligand and 4-1BB expression on the surface of CD4(+) T-cells were increased after TCR-ligation activation; however, expression on CD8(+) T-cells was not increased. Dendritic cells cultured in the presence of activated CD4(+) T-cells pre-treated with doxorubicin had greater survival rates than those cultured with activated CD8(+) T-cells. Doxorubicin pre-treatment followed by anti-CD3epsilon+anti-4-1BB activation led to proliferation of CD4(+) T-cells and no proliferative effects on CD8(+) T-cells. Our results collectively suggest that doxorubicin pre-treatment in cancer patients may be a more effective way to enhance anti-cancer immune responses by increased antigen-specific CD4(+) Th1 immune responses.
International immunopharmacology 09/2009; 9(13-14):1530-9. · 2.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In the present study, we used the SOD1(G93A) mutant transgenic mice as an in vivo model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and performed immunohistochemical studies to investigate the changes of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 4 (IGFBP4) in the central nervous system. Decreased expression of IGFBP4 was obvious in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellar cortex and inferior olive of SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice. In the cerebral cortex, there was a significant decrease in IGFBP4 immunoreactivity in the pyramidal cells. In the hippocampal formation, IGFBP4 immunoreactivity was also decreased in the pyramidal cells of CA1-3 areas and the granule cells of dentate gyrus. In the cerebellar cortex, IGFBP4 immunoreactivity was prominent in the granular layer in wtSOD1 transgenic mice, compared to that in SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice. IGFBP4 immunoreactivity was decreased in the inferior olive of SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice. This study, showing decreased IGFBP4 in different brain regions of SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice, may provide clues to understanding the differential susceptibility of neural structures in ALS, suggesting a role of IGFBP4 in an abnormality of cognitive and/or motor function in ALS. The mechanisms and functional implications of these decreases require elucidation.
Annals of anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger: official organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft 09/2008; 190(6):502-9. · 0.88 Impact Factor
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Do Yeon Lee,
Kyu-Sun Lee,
Hyun Jung Lee,
Yoo Hun Noh,
Do Hee Kim,
Jun Young Lee,
Soo Hyun Cho,
Ok Ja Yoon,
Won Bok Lee,
Kyung Yong Kim, Yoon Hee Chung,
Sung Su Kim
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ABSTRACT: Kynurenic acid (KYNA), a tryptophan metabolite in the kynurenine pathway, is protective against various insults. However, the molecular mechanism of this protective effect has not been identified. In this study, we examined the protective effects of KYNA against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)), the best-characterized toxin inducing pathological changes resembling Parkinson's disease (PD), using SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells. Pre-treatment of KYNA attenuated MPP(+)-induced neuronal cell death in SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH cells. MPP(+)-induced cell death was preceded by increases in Bax expression and mitochondrial dysfunction, such as collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)), release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytoplasm, and increases in caspase-9/-3 activities. KYNA effectively inhibited all of these mitochondrial apoptotic processes. Our results indicate that KYNA plays a protective role by down-regulating Bax expression and maintaining mitochondrial function in MPP(+)-induced neuronal cell death, and suggest that KYNA may have therapeutic potential in PD.
European Journal of Cell Biology 07/2008; 87(6):389-97. · 2.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We performed an immunohistochemical study on the estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha) distribution in the cerebellum of a human neonate with multiple congenital anomalies, that had been acquired during autopsy. Although the exact pathology in the brain was not clearly elucidated in this study, an unidentified stressful condition might have induced the astrocytes into reactive states. In this immunohistochemical study on the neonatal cerebellum with multiple congenital anomalies, intense ER-alpha immunoreactivities (IRs) were localized mainly within the white matter even though ER-alpha IRs were known to be mainly localized in neurons. Double immunohistochemical staining showed that ER-alpha IR cells were reactive astrocytes, but not neurons. Interestingly, there were differences in the process length among the reactive astrocytes showing ER-alpha IRs. Our quantitative data confirmed that among the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-expressing reactive astrocytes, the cells exhibiting intense ER-alpha IRs have much longer cytoplasmic processes and relatively weaker GFAP IRs. Taken together, the elongated processes of reactive astrocytes might be due to decreased expression of GFAP, which might be induced by elevated expression of ER-alpha even though the elucidation of the exact mechanism needs further studies.
Journal of Korean Medical Science 11/2007; 22(5):936-41. · 0.99 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In the present study, we examined the localizations of canonical transient receptor potential channels (TRPCs) in rat basal ganglia. The dot-like staining pattern of TRPC5 was observed through the globus pallidus (GP) and caudate-putamen. TRPC7 had a strikingly high level of expression in the neuropil in the GP. In the subthalamic nucleus, strong staining for TRPC5 was observed in the cell bodies, while moderate to high immunoreactivies for TRPC1, TRPC3, TRPC4 and TRPC7 were found in the cell bodies and surrounding neuropil. In the substantia nigra, immunoreactivities for TRPC3 and TRPC7 were prominent in the cell bodies and several processes in the pars compacta and pars reticulata. TRPC6 was expressed in the neuropil, not in the cell bodies. This study may provide useful data for the future investigations on the structural and functional properties of TRPCs.
Neuroscience Letters 08/2007; 422(1):18-23. · 2.11 Impact Factor
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In Sun Lee,
Myeung Ju Kim,
Dong Soo Yoo,
Young Seok Lee,
Sung Sil Park,
Gi Dae Bok,
Seung Ho Han, Yoon Hee Chung,
Byung Soo Chang,
Yang Su Yi,
Chang Seok Oh,
Dong Hoon Shin
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ABSTRACT: Recently reported studies on the medieval mummies in Korea have been regarded as an invaluable source for studying the physical characteristics of medieval Koreans. However, since the reported medieval mummies were re-buried by their descendants without any scientific investigations, the development of a brief, non-invasive investigation technique was desperately needed among the researchers in Korea. In this regard, we tried to apply high-quality multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) with three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions and multi-planar reformat (MPR) to investigate Korean mummies. In our study, after 1.25 or 2.5mm thin slice axial images were taken, 3D reconstruction and MPR were performed to get more accurate information about internal organs. In this trial, we successfully showed high-quality images for the brain, muscles, bones, heart and liver. During various trials for getting selected organs, we could make the 3D reconstructed images of them. Since we could show that the current MDCT technique could be useful for obtaining high-quality 3D reconstructed images of the internal organs of Korean mummies, this technique will be used in forthcoming similar cases, which could not be investigated using invasive techniques.
Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger 02/2007; 189(6):558-68. · 1.86 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Although glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) is emerging as a prominent drug target in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and stroke, very little is known about age-related changes in GSK3beta expression and GSK3beta phosphorylation. Therefore, we examined age-related changes in immunoreactivities for GSK3beta and phosphorylated GSK3beta (pGSK3beta) in the central nervous system. In aged rats, there were significant increases in GSK3beta immunoreactivity in the cell bodies and processes of pyramidal cells in most cortical regions. GSK3beta immunoreactivity was also significantly increased in the pyramidal layer of CA1-3 regions, and the granule cell layer of dentate gyrus. Age-related increases were prominent in lateral septal nuclei, compared to the medial septal nuclei. Interestingly, both GSK3beta and pGSK3beta was increased in the prefrontal cortex, while GSK3beta and pGSK3beta was differentially localized in the cerebellar cortex. The first demonstration of age-related alterations in immunoreactivities for GSK3beta and pGSK3beta in the basal forebrain area and cholinergic projection targets may provide useful data for investigating the pathogenesis of age-related neurodegenerative diseases including AD.
Neuroscience Letters 01/2007; 409(2):134-9. · 2.11 Impact Factor
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Byung Soo Chang,
Chang Sub Uhm,
Chang Hyun Park,
Han Kyeom Kim,
Gui Young Lee,
Han Hee Cho,
Myeung Ju Kim, Yoon Hee Chung,
Kang Won Song,
Do Sun Lim,
Dong Hoon Shin
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ABSTRACT: Recently published reports on Korea's medieval mummies have been regarded as an invaluable source for studies into the physical characteristics of medieval Koreans. However, even though the mummified tissues have been investigated histologically on various previous occasions, there are many unanswered questions relating to their tissue preservation. The aim of this study was to obtain new data on the ultramicroscopic characteristics of the mummified skin of a fifteenth-century mummy found recently in Daejeon--one of the oldest ever found in Korea. Electron microscopy revealed that much of the epidermis had decayed; what remained of the dermis was filled with collagen fibres and melanin granules or invading bacterial spores present within the mummified epidermis. Considering the histological characteristics shared by naturally formed mummies in different parts of the world, we concluded that the ultramicroscopic patterns of the Daejeon mummy were more comparable with those naturally formed mummies than with artificially formed ones. This is the first full description of the morphological characteristics of the skin collected from this recently found medieval mummy from Daejeon, South Korea.
Journal of Anatomy 12/2006; 209(5):671-80. · 2.37 Impact Factor
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Seok Bae Kim,
Jeong Eun Shin,
Sung Sil Park,
Gi Dae Bok,
Young Pyo Chang,
Jaehyup Kim, Yoon Hee Chung,
Yang Su Yi,
Myung Ho Shin,
Byung Soo Chang,
Dong Hoon Shin,
Myeung Ju Kim
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ABSTRACT: Our previous reports on medieval mummies in Korea have provided information on their preservation status. Because invasive techniques cannot easily be applied when investigating such mummies, the need for non-invasive techniques incurring minimal damage has increased among researchers. Therefore, we wished to confirm whether endoscopy, which has been used in non-invasive and minimally invasive studies of mummies around the world, is an effective tool for study of Korean mummies as well. In conducting an endoscopic investigation on a 15th-century child mummy, we found that well-preserved internal organs remained within the thoracic, abdominal and cranial cavities. The internal organs - including the brain, spinal cord, lung, muscles, liver, heart, intestine, diaphragm and mesentery - were easily investigated by endoscopy. Even the stool of the mummy, which accidentally leaked into the abdominal cavity during an endoscopic biopsy, was clearly observed. In addition, unusual nodules were found on the surface of the intestines and liver. Our current study therefore showed that endoscopic observation could provide an invaluable tool for the palaeo-pathological study of Korean mummies. This technique will continue to be used in the study of medieval mummy cases in the future.
Journal of Anatomy 12/2006; 209(5):681-8. · 2.37 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Recently, two L-ascorbic acid transporters were identified; sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter (SVCT) 1 and SVCT2. The previous study suggested that SVCT protein might be present on the apical membrane in the straight segment (S3) of proximal tubule. In the present study, SVCT1 immunoreactivity (IR) was observed in the brush border of proximal straight tubules in the medullary ray of renal cortex and the outer stripe of outer medulla, while SVCT2 IR was not localized in any region of the kidney. Since the mechanism of VC reabsorption in the kidney has not been fully elucidated up to the present time, it is meaningful to demonstrate the exact cellular distribution of SVCT protein in the kidney.
Histochemie 11/2006; 126(4):491-4. · 2.59 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Recent reports on the medieval mummies in Korea have been an invaluable source for the studies on the physical characteristics of medieval Koreans. Though the histological observations on the medieval mummy found in Korea were actively reported by researchers, it could not be said that all the queries on the mummies had been completely answered at the present time. In this study, we tried to add the novel data on the ultramicroscopic characteristics of the hair taken from the recently discovered 15th century mummy, the oldest one ever found in Korea. Even comparing with the hair from living individual, the hair of 15th century mummy showed very intact appearances during observation with electron microscope because the scales on the surface of the mummified hair were not damaged, which were not easily maintained even in living individuals. As to the cause of the excellent preservation of 15th century mummified hair, the presence of surface coat on the hair should be considered. That is, just like the complete sealing effect of lime-soil mixture barrier around the coffin, the presence of the surface coat including calcium and sodium might inhibit the water or fungal infiltrations into the hair shaft.
Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger 10/2006; 188(5):439-45. · 1.86 Impact Factor
