Objective: To evaluate the anti-mycobacterial activity of Melia azedarach L. (M. azedarach) and Lobelia chinensis Lour. (L. chinensis) extracts against the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis).
Methods: The anti-M. tuberculosis activity of M. azedarach and L. chinensis extracts were evaluated using different indicator methods such as resazurin microtiter assay (REMA) and mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) 960 system assay. The M. tuberculosis was incubated with various concentrations (50–800 mg/mL) of the ex-tracts for 5 days in the REMA, and for 4 weeks in MGIT 960 system assay.
Results: M. azedarach and L. chinensis extracts showed their anti-M. tuberculosis ac-tivity by strongly inhibiting the growth of M. tuberculosis in a concentration-dependent manner in the REMA and the MGIT 960 system assay. Particularly, the methanol extract of M. azedarach and n-hexane extract of L. chinensis consistently exhibited their effects by effectively inhibiting the growth of M. tuberculosis in MGIT 960 system for 4 weeks with a single-treatment, indicating higher anti-M. tuberculosis activity than other extracts, and their minimum inhibitory concentrations were measured as 400 mg/mL and 800 mg/mL, respectively.
Conclusions: These results demonstrate that M. azedarach and L. chinensis extracts not only have unique anti-M. tuberculosis activity, but also induce the selective anti-M. tuberculosis effects by consistently inhibiting or blocking the growth of M. tuberculosis through a new pharmacological action. Therefore, this study suggests the potential of them as effective candidate agents of next-generation for developing a new anti-tuberculosis drug, as well as the advantage for utilizing traditional medicinal plants as one of effective strategies against tuberculosis.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Human ; Authorship ; Biomedical Research ; Scientific Misconduct ; Publications

OBJECTIVE: In the previous study, we compiled the differentially expressed genes during early folliculogenesis.1 Objective of the present study was to identify downstream target genes of transcription factors (TFs) using bioinformatics for selecting the target TFs among the gene lists for further functional analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By using bioinformatics tools, constituent domains were identified from database searches using Gene Ontology, MGI, and Entrez Gene. Downstream target proteins/genes of each TF were identified from database searches using TF database (TRANSFAC(R) 6.0) and eukaryotic promoter database (EPD). RESULTS: DNA binding and trans-activation domains of all TFs listed previously were identified, and the list of downstream target proteins/genes was obtained from searche of TF database and promoter database. Based on the known function of identified downstream genes and the domains, 3 (HNF4, PPARg, and TBX2) out of 26 TFs were selected for further functional analysis. The genes of wee1-like protein kinase and p21WAF1 (cdk inhibitor) were identified as potential downstream target genes of HNF4 and TBX2, respectively. PPARg, through protein-protein interaction with other protein partners, acts as a transcription regulator of genes of EGFR, p21WAF1, cycD1, p53, and VEGF. Among the selected 3 TFs, further study is in progress for HNF4 and TBX2, since wee1-like protein kinase and cdk inhibitor may involved in regulating maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity during early folliculogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Approach used in the present study, in silico analysis of downstream target genes, was useful for analyzing list of TFs obtained from high-throughput cDNA microarray study. To verify its binding and functions of the selected TFs in early folliculogenesis, EMSA and further relevant characterizations are under investigation.
Computational Biology ; Computer Simulation* ; DNA ; Gene Ontology ; Maturation-Promoting Factor ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Protein Kinases ; Transcription Factors* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Cerebral venous infarction is associated with a wide variety of clinical symptoms and signs, which may often delay appropriate diagnosis. Unilateral vestibular deficit as a presenting sign of cerebral venous infarction has rarely been reported. We report a patient with cerebral venous infarction who had severe prolonged vertigo, vomiting, occipital headache, positive head thrust testing, and unilateral caloric weakness as main clinical features. Although the patient had occipital headache, overall symptoms and signs closely mimicked those of acute peripheral vestibulopathy.
Diagnosis ; Head Impulse Test ; Headache ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Vertigo ; Vestibular Neuronitis ; Vomiting

Vestibular neuritis (VN) is an idiopathic peripheral vestibular syndrome characterized by acute isolated prolonged vertigo. In most cases, it results from inflammation of the vestibular nerve presumably of viral origin. There has been no previous report of VN associated with a vascular cause. We here report a patient with VN of vascular origin who presented with acute onset of prolonged isolated vertigo, a unilateral decreased caloric response, and simultaneously with acute infarcts on brain MRI that were unrelated to patient's vertigo.
Brain ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Vertigo ; Vestibular Nerve ; Vestibular Neuronitis*

The study of the validity test on the self-monitoring scale for nurses In this study. both the literary survey as well as empirical research has been executed to test the validity of the scales that measure the construct of the self-monitoring scale. The self-monitoring scale could not be classified into five factors as Snyder suggested. Many other scholars( Briggs, Cheek and Buss, 1580) suggested 3 different classifications which was accepted by Snyder and Gangestad (1986) , John, Cheek and Klohnen(1996) claimed a two -factor classification. As has been discussed. factor analysis is used to prove convergent validity within the (actor and discriminant validity between the factors. However, depending on the researchers, many variations in classification of the factors were found and a lack of content and discriminant validity were found in the previous research findings. It is also important to note that Snyder's self-monitoring scale did not factor-load at over . 30 for all 25 items, regardless of how many factors could be classified. According to findings of this study, the self-monitoring scale neither classified as five, three or two factors nor (actor loaded as hypothesized. It is also clear that Snyder's self-monitoring scale lacks convergent validity as the sub-(actors of the scale failed to prove its uni -dimensionality. The A self-monitoring scale not only fail to overcome the problems of Snyder's self-monitoring scale but even lost the attractiveness of the self-monitoring scale. In this study it was also found that the A self-monitoring scale was not classified in either in a two or three-factor classification as hypothesized. It is, of course, not desirable to use any scale that lacks convergent and discriminant validity even though it has been widely used and has held a great deal of influence on the field of social psychology. To overcome the shortcomings of Snyder's self-monitoring scale, Lennox and Wolfe(1984) suggested 13 items. This study was dedicated to test the validity and reliability of the scale, in which we found that the data presented in validity as the two factors were classified and loaded as expected. Reliability was also proven by checking Cronbach's alpha for each factor and for the total items. In addition a confirmatory factor analysis was executed for the 13items using M SREL 8.12 program to confirm convergent validity in a two-factor classification. The model was fitting and sound however, the self-monitoring scale was unfitted and not validated. Thus, it is recommended to use not the original nor the abbreviated self-monitoring scale but the 13 items in future studies. It should also be noted that items 7 and 13 should be removed to obtain better mini-dimensionality for the 13 items. These items loaded at over .30, too high for the two factors in the test results of Factor analysis. In addition. it is necessary to double-check the cause of two-hold loading at over .30 for the two factors. It could be a problem caused by data or by the scale itself. Therefore, additional studies should follow to better clarify this matter.
Cheek ; Classification ; Empirical Research ; Psychology, Social ; Reproducibility of Results ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVES: To examine emotional and psychological characteristics associated with suicide attempts in depressed patients. METHODS: A sample of 37 inpatients diagnosed with major depressive disorder or depressive disorder NOS was divided into two groups : lifetime suicide attempters(N=15 ; 40.54%), non-attempters(N=22 ; 59.46%). Beck Depression Scale(BDI), Beck Anxiety Scale(BAI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HARS), and MMPI-2 were used to evaluate symptoms severity and psychological characteristics. RESULTS: Suicide attempters scored higher on the BDI though there were no group differences on the HDRS and on the both anxiety scales. Also they showed higher scores on the F, Fb, Pa, RC1, DEP, HEA, PK, AAS among MMPI-2 subscales. Our findings suggest that suicide attempters among depressed patients undergo more severe subjective distress and difficulties in adjustment than non-attempters. Also they were more hostile to others and showed lower trust. Lastly, they showed more somatic complaints and substance related problems. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that suicide attempters among depressed patients have distinct emotional and psychological characteristics. MMPI-2 would be helpful to assess suicidal risk of depressed patients.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Pyrrolidines ; Suicide ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Body lateropulsion with falling to one side is a well-known clinical feature of stroke in the posterior circulation. Body lateropulsion as an isolated or predominant manifestation of a pontine stroke has not previously been reported. To elucidate the possible mechanisms of patients presenting with body lateropulsion as an isolated or predominant symptom of isolated pontine infarction. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Between May 2004 and February 2006, out of 134 admitted patients with an isolated pontine stroke we identified 8 consecutive patients (6.0%) in the Keimyung University Stroke Registry who had body lateropulsion as the main presenting symptom. RESULTS: All lesions were localized to the paramedian tegmentum just ventral to the 4th ventricle. All except 1showed a uniform pattern of body lateropulsion, in which the direction of falling was away from the side of infarct. In 2 patients, body lateropulsion was the sole clinical manifestation, whereas the other patients had other neurological signs. All but 1 had contraversive tilting of the subjective visual vertical (SVV). In all cases, the direction of SVV tilt corresponded to the direction of body lateropulsion. The mean net tilt angle was 6.1 CONCLUSION: Based on the known anatomy of ascending vestibular pathways, the SVV tilting, and MRI findings, body lateropulsion probably results from damage to the graviceptive pathway ascending through paramedian pontine tegmentum.
Humans ; Infarction* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pons ; Stroke