• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.24 no.11
• /
• pp.1583-1591
• /
• 2014

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation alters multiple molecular pathways in the skin, thereby inducing skin damage, including photoaging. In recent years, probiotics have gained interest due to their beneficial effects on skin health, such as inhibiting atopic dermatitis and improving skin immunity or inflammation. However, little is known about the effects of probiotics on UVB-induced photoaging. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum HY7714 against UVB-induced photoaging in human dermal fibroblasts and hairless mice. The results showed that L. plantarum HY7714 treatment effectively rescued UVB-reduced procollagen expression through the inhibition of UVB-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 expression in human dermal fibroblasts. Data from a western blot showed that L. plantarum HY7714 inhibited the phosphorylation of Jun N-terminal kinase, thereby suppressing the UVB-induced phosphorylation and expression of c-Jun. Oral administration of L. plantarum HY7714 clearly inhibited the number, depth, and area of wrinkles in hairless mouse skin. Histological data showed that L. plantarum HY7714 significantly inhibited UVB-induced epidermal thickness in mice. Western blot and zymography data also revealed that L. plantarum HY7714 effectively inhibited MMP-13 expression as well as MMP-2 and -9 activities in dermal tissue. Collectively, these results provide further insight regarding the skin biological actions of L. plantarum HY7714, a potential skin anti-photoaging agent.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.167-175
• /
• 2013

Korean red ginseng (KRG) is reported to have anti-allergic properties, including beneficial effects on asthma and atopic dermatitis. However, its effect on allergic rhinitis has not been studied extensively. This study examined how KRG affected allergic inflammation of the nasal cavity in an allergic mouse model. A total of 40 Balb/c female mice were divided into four experimental groups according to treatment and allergic state: group 1 (G1), saline only; group 2 (G2), ovalbumin (OVA); group 3 (G3), OVA+KRG; and group 4 (G4), OVA+dexamethasone. Serum IgE levels were significantly lower in the KRG treatment group (G3) than in the allergic group (G2). However, serum IgG1 levels did not differ between G2 and G3. In the nasal lavage fluid, IL-4 and IL-5 levels were significantly lower in G3 than in G2 (p<0.05). H&E and Luna staining revealed that the eosinophil count was lower in G3 and G4 than in G2 (p<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining revealed that there were fewer IL-4-, IL-5-, and MUC5AC-positive cells in G3 and G4 than in G2 (p<0.05). These results indicate that KRG reduces the nasal allergic inflammatory reaction in an allergic murine model by reducing Th2 cytokines.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.93-96
• /
• 2009

House dust mites (HDMs) play an important role in the occurrence of allergic diseases such as asthma and atopic dermatitis. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) is one of the most prevalent HDMs. It mediates the activation of T cells and monocytes, and induces the elevation of immunoglobulin E levels in allergic diseases. However, the effects of Der p on human monocytes have not been fully understood. In the present study, we investigated whether or not Der p has a great effect on the chemotactic activity of the human monocytic cell line, THP-1 cells, as induced by CC chemokines. We also show that the Der p extract (DpE) increased the chemotactic activity of THP-1 cells in response to MCP-1, RANTES, MIP-1${\alpha}$, and TARC, but had no effect on the expressions of CC chemokine receptors (CCRs) binding to CC chemokines in THP-1 cells. Protease inhibitors, such as aprotinin and E64, blocked the increased chemotaxis, while cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$ influx mediated by these chemokines was inhibited by DpE. These results indicate that DpE increases the chemotactic activity of THP-1 cells in response to CC chemokines by regulating the cells' protease-dependent mechanism. This finding may be useful in identifying the pathogenesis of allergic diseases induced by Der p.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.57-62
• /
• 2016

Up-regulation of adhesion molecules plays an important role in the infiltration of leukocytes into the skin during the development of various inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis. In this study, we investigated the modulatory effects of 2,3-dimethoxy-2′-hydroxychalcone (DMHC) on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression and monocyte adhesiveness, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying its action in the HaCaT human keratinocyte cell line. Pre-treating HaCaT cells with DMHC significantly suppressed TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and subsequent monocyte adhesiveness. DMHC inhibited TNF-α-induced activation of NF-ᴋB. In addition, DMHC induced HO-1 expression as well as NRF2 activation. Furthermore, HO-1 knockdown using siRNA reversed the inhibitory effect of DMHC on TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and adhesion of monocytes to keratinocytes. These results suggest that DMHC may inhibit TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and adhesion of monocytes to keratinocytes by suppressing the signaling cascades leading to NF-ᴋB activation and inducing HO-1 expression in keratinocytes. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(1): 57-62]

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.20 no.1 s.32
• /
• pp.218-227
• /
• 2007

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate outpatients of hypersensitive rhinitis including allergic rhinitis who had visited to Hospital of Oriental Medicine. Method : We analyzed statistics study in 580 patients, who had visited to the Dept. of dermatology, ophthalmology & otorhinolayngology Hospital of Oriental Medicine Dongeui University from March, 1998 to December, 2006. Results : The results were as follows. 1. There is more male(53.28%) than femal(46.72%). The age distributions of patients showed highest in 20-29 years, followed by 10-19 years, 30-39 years in order. 2. The yearly distributions of patients showed highest in 2004, followed by 2001, 2005 in order. The seasonal distributions of patients showed highest in fall, followed by winter, summer, spring in order. The monthly distributions of patients showed highest in September, followed by August, October in order. 3. The distributions of number of times in treatment showed highest in 1-5 times. The distributions of duration of treatment showed highest in 1 week. In the treatment method, a major portion of treatment methods was acupuncture, followed by herbal medicine treatment, aroma therapy in order. 4. The Frequency of use of Prescriptions showed highest in Bojungikgi-Tanggami. The Frequency of use of Extract showed highest in Sochungryong-Tang. 5. The distribution of past history showed highest in Atopic dermatitis. The distribution of Rhinologic Complication showed highest in Paranasal sinusitis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.374-380
• /
• 2012

Objectives: Stress is considered a causal factor in many diseases, allergic disease being one of them. The prevalence of allergic disease is increasing in Korea, but the relationship between allergic symptoms and stress is not empirically well known. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between allergy-related symptoms and stress in children and adolescents. Methods: We investigated 698 children and adolescents living in Gwangyang Bay, Korea, using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood and the Psychosocial Well-being Index, these subjects were surveyed on allergy-related symptoms and psychosocial stressors in their lives, respectively. We used a multivariate logistic analysis for odds ratios for the complaint rate of allergic symptoms, after adjusting for age, gender, household income, body mass index, and residence. Results: After adjustments, lifetime rhinitis (odds ratio [OR], 1.024), rhinoconjunctivitis (OR, 1.090), diagnosis of itchy eczema (OR, 1.040), treatment of itchy eczema (OR, 1.049), 12-month allergic conjunctivitis (OR, 1.026), diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis (OR, 1.031), and treatment of allergic conjunctivitis (OR, 1.034) were found to be significantly associated with stress. Conclusions: Our results support the notion that there is a relationship between stress and allergic symptoms in children and adolescents. Further research into any causal relationship between stress and allergies, as well as preventative public health plans for decreasing stress in children and adolescents are needed.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.239-245
• /
• 2016

Objectives: This study was conducted to clarify the effects of agarwood on histamine release from mast cells in rats and on the scratching behaviors in mice. Methods: Histamine release from rat mast cells induced by compound 48/80 or concanavalin A (Con A) and compound 48/80-induced scratching behavior in mice were examined to investigate the effects of agarwood. The hyaluronidase activity and the 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in mast cells were examined to investigate the mechanisms for the inhibition of histamine release. The correlation between the inhibitory effects of agarwood on histamine release and the content of its typical ingredients, a 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives, was analyzed using thin-layer chromatography. Results: Agarwood showed an inhibitory effect on mast-cell histamine release induced by compound 48/80 or Con A without any effect on hyaluronidase activity; this effect involves an increase in the cAMP levels in mast cells. Oral administration of agarwood showed an inhibitory effect on compound 48/80-induced scratching behavior in mice. The inhibitory effects of agarwood on histamine release were quite different, depending on the area where the agarwood was produced, its quality, and its market price. No correlation was found between the inhibitory effects of agarwood on histamine release and the typical ingredients of agarwood, which are 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives. Conclusion: These results show that agarwood inhibits histamine release from mast cells partially through an increase in the cAMP levels in cells. We suggest that some active ingredients of agarwood must be effective on oral intake and that agarwood can be used to treat patients with a number of conditions, including urticaria, atopic dermatitis, and bronchial asthma, in which an increase in histamine release occurs. Differences in the pharmacological effects of this crude drug among markets may provide important information for the quality control of this herbal medicine.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.902-907
• /
• 2012

The worldwide prevalence and severity of allergic diseases including atopic dermatitis and asthma has increased dramatically over the past decade, especially in developed countries. Mast cells are important effector cells in allergic reactions. The purpose of this study was undertaken to investigate the anti-allergic activities of the extract of Duchesnea chrysantha (DCE). DCE was prepared by extracting with 80% ethanol. In the present study, we investigate the effect of DCE on the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8, and histamine in the human mast cell line (HMC-1 cells) and on the scratching behavior in hairless mice. Various concentrations of DCE were treated before the activation of HMC-1 cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore A23187. PMA plus A23187 significantly increased TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-8 production compared with media control. We also show that the increased cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-8 were significantly inhibited by DCE in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, DCE inhibited the histamine release from HMC-1 cells stimulated by compound 48/80, which promotes histamine release. Futhermore, the administration of DCE reduced the scratching behavior induced by pruritogen (compound 48/80 or histamine) in hairless mice. These results suggest that DCE has a potential use as a medicinal plant for treatment against allergy-related disease.

• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
• /
• v.9 no.9
• /
• pp.259-266
• /
• 2020

In this paper, we propose a novel scheme for product effect analysis, termed PEM, to find out the effectiveness of products used for improving the current condition, such as health supplements and cosmetics, by utilizing online customer reviews. The proposed technique preprocesses online customer reviews to remove advertisements automatically, constructs the word dictionary composed of symptoms, effects, increases, and decreases, and measures products' effects from online customer reviews. Using Naver Shopping Review datasets collected through crawling, we evaluated the performance of PEM compared to those of two methods using traditional sentiment dictionary and an RNN model, respectively. Our experimental results shows that the proposed technique outperforms the other two methods. In addition, by applying the proposed technique to the online customer reviews of atopic dermatitis and acne, effective treatments for them were found appeared on online social media. The proposed product effect analysis technique presented in this paper can be applied to various products and social media because it can score the effect of products from reviews of various media including blogs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.591-601
• /
• 2013

In modern society, we are living indoor at 80 - 90 % or more of the day, therefore most people are exposed to unconscious indoor air pollutants by various causes. When mother and infant, whose level of immunity are weak, are exposed to polluted indoor air, respiratory diseases and atopy can occur by the growth of bacteria. Therefore, appropriate indoor air quality management is important especially at nursery, elementary school and postpartum clinic etc. In this study, we compared the characteristics of the indoor air qualities of primary school facilities and infant facilities. In this study, seasonal effects were investigated. Also the effects of individual activity area were studied for indoor air quality. During summer season(May-August), the air qualities of each 16 elementary school and nursery school were investigated. During winter season(October-december), the air qualities of each 10 elementary school and nursery school were investigated. As a result, during winter season in 10 of 16 nursery school, $CO_2$ concentration exceeded regulation level of 1000 ppm. This resulted from the operation of heating system and poor ventilation. Also the air quality of all parameters during winter season were worse than during summer, maybe due to poor ventilation. Except HCHO, the concentrations of other parameters were higher in nursery school. This seems to result from relatively low individual activity area of nursery school than elementary school. From this research, more strong regulation for ventilation and installation of air purifier should be implemented.