BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In this study, potential anti-inflammatory effect of enzymatic hydrolysates from Styela clava flesh tissue was assessed via nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccahride (LPS) induced RAW 264.7 macrophages and in vivo zebrafish model. MATERIALS/METHODS: We investigated the ability of enzymatic hydrolysates from Styela clava flesh tissue to inhibit LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in RAW 264.7 macrophages, and the molecular mechanism through which this inhibition occurred. In addition, we evaluated anti-inflammatory effect of enzymatic hydrolysates against a LPS-exposed in in vivo zebrafish model. RESULTS: Among the enzymatic hydrolysates, Protamex-proteolytic hydrolysate exhibited the highest NO inhibitory effect and was fractionated into three ranges of molecular weight by using ultrafiltration (UF) membranes (MWCO 5 kDa and 10 kDa). The above 10 kDa fraction down-regulated LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), thereby reducing production of NO and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The above 10 kDa fraction suppressed LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. In addition, the above 10 kDa fraction inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. Furthermore, NO production in live zebrafish induced by LPS was reduced by addition of the above 10 kDa fraction from S. clava enzymatic hydrolysate. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that hydrolysates derived from S. clava flesh tissue would be new anti-inflammation materials in functional resources.
Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Cytokines ; Dinoprostone ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Macrophages* ; Membranes ; Molecular Weight ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Phosphorylation ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Ultrafiltration ; Zebrafish*

No abstract available.
Female ; Granulosa Cells* ; Interferon-alpha* ; Rodentia*

Astragalus membranaceus is used as a natural herbal medicine in East Asia for preventing carcinogenesis and reducing side effects induced by chemotherapy in cancer patients. Although the mechanism of anti-tumor activity is not known, the polysaccharides may potentiate the host defense mechanism through the activation of immune system. The objective of this study is to investigate the mechanism by which APS activates macrophages. To analyze macrophage activation and iNOS gene expression, we performed nitrite generation assay, immunohistochemistry, and RT-PCR. In the present study we show that a polysaccharide isolated from the Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus Polysaccharide, APS) significantly induces nitric oxide (NO). Immunohistochemical staining of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) showed that the increase of NO was due to the induction of iNOS production. To further study the mechanism responsible for the induction of iNOS, we investigated the effect of APS on the iNOS mRNA expression. RT-PCR analysis showed that APS produced significant induction of iNOS gene expression. In conclusion, we demonstrate that a polysaccharide isolated from Astragalus membranaceus stimulates macrophages to generate NO through the activation of iNOS gene expression.
Astragalus membranaceus* ; Carcinogenesis ; Drug Therapy ; Far East ; Gene Expression ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunohistochemistry ; Macrophage Activation ; Macrophages ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Polysaccharides ; RNA, Messenger

Blueberry was enzymatically hydrolyzed using selected commercial food grade carbohydrases (AMG, Celluclast, Termamyl, Ultraflo and Viscozyme) and proteases (Alcalase, Flavourzyme, Kojizyme, Neutrase and Protamex) to obtain water soluble compounds, and their protective effect was investigated against H2O2-induced damage in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast cell line (V79-4) via various published methods. Both AMG and Alcalase hydrolysates showed higher total phenolic content as well as higher cell viability and ROS scavenging activities, and hence, selected for further antioxidant assays. Both AMG and Alcalase hydrolysates also showed higher protective effects against lipid peroxidation, DNA damage and apoptotic body formation in a dose-dependent fashion. Thus, the results indicated that water soluble compounds obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of blueberry possess good antioxidant activity against H2O2-induced cell damage in vitro.
Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blueberry Plant ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; DNA Damage ; Endopeptidases ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Hydrogen ; Hydrolysis ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Lung ; Metalloendopeptidases ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Phenol ; Subtilisins

For cervical cancer, the combination chemotherapy could increase the trial of radical hysterectomy due to reduction in tumor volume even in advanced stage and help to decrease corrected dose of radiotherapy. It also reduces postoperative radiotherapy to avoid the side effect and therefore make the quality of life better. Cisplatin chemotherapy alone was known to result in objective response rates of 20%. Todays animal experiment studies stated that Ifosfamide could accelerate the efficacy of Cisplatin. Thus in this study, neoadjuvant chemotherapy was applied to those cervical cancer patients in the use of the combination chemotherapy including Ifosfamide, PI(Cisplatin+ Ifosfamide) and PAIB(Cisplatin+ Ifosfamide+ Adriamycin+ Bleomycin). A total of 43 patients were entered in this trial, 23(53%) achieved at least a 50% reduction in tumor volume, 20(47%) showed no change. After completion of combination chemotherapy, 30(70%) of the 43 were done radical hysterectomy, 13(30%) given to radiotherapy. 9(30%) of the 30 patients were applied postoperative radiation therapy. Nausea and vomiting occurred in 35 of the 43 patients(81%) and alopecia 15(34%) for toxicity. Severe CNS toxicity(Grade 4) was detected in one patient. This study suggest that Ifosfamide combination chemotherapy is effective in tumor reduction and minimal toxity and can performed radical operation in cases of large tumor volume.
Alopecia ; Animal Experimentation ; Cisplatin ; Doxorubicin* ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Ifosfamide* ; Nausea ; Quality of Life ; Radiotherapy ; Tumor Burden ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* ; Vomiting

A pseudo-Cushing's state can be defined as some or all of the clinical features of Cushing's syndrome together with some evidence for hypercortisolism. It may be related to depression, alcohol abuse and obesity. Its manifestation may be transient and resolved with abstinence from causing factors. We report a case of a 70-year-old woman with unilateral nonfunctioning adrenal adenoma and geriatric depressive disorder, which diagnosed by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). She showed clinical and/or biochemical features of Cushing's syndrome. Low dose and high dose dexamethasone suppression tests were not identical to those in ACTH independent Cushing's syndrome. Few cases of pseudo-Cushing's syndrome were reported previously in Korea but there was no report about pseudo-Cushing's syndrome combined with nonfunctional adrenal adenoma.
Adenoma* ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Aged ; Alcoholism ; Cushing Syndrome ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Dexamethasone ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Obesity

Delayed type cerebral vasoconstriction (DCV) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is an important cause of permanent neurological injury and death. The mechanism of DCV remains unknown. Recently many investigators have used a new treatment for DCV involving the use of intraventricular sodium nitroprusside. We report upon a clinical case where a relatively large amount of sodium nitroprusside was intrathecally delivered by intraventricular catheter for the treatment for DCV.
Catheters ; Humans ; Nitroprusside* ; Research Personnel ; Sodium* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Vasoconstriction ; Vasospasm, Intracranial*

Chylothorax, defined as escape of chyle from the thoracic duct into the thoracic cavity, is the most common cause of pleural effusion during the neonatal period. The use of octreotide, a synthetic analogue of the somatostatin, for the treatment of congenital idiopathic chylothorax, has not been previously reported in Korea. We report here a case of idiopathic congenital chylothrax successfully treated with octreotide in a premature infant who showed no response to conservative therapies.
Chyle ; Chylothorax* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Korea ; Octreotide* ; Pleural Effusion ; Somatostatin ; Thoracic Cavity ; Thoracic Duct ; United Nations

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate discrepancies between self-awareness of memory functions and actual memory functions in the elderly community. METHODS: A total of 369 individuals aged over 65 years from four elderly community centers completed clinical evaluation, neuropsychological batteries of the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD-K), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), and the Hachinski Ischemic Score. RESULTS: Among the elderly particpants, 26.3% showed incorrect awareness regarding their memory function. Those with subjective memory complaints included 73.5% with no memory impairment, while those without memory complaints included 11.3% of those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and 4.3% of those with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Subjective memory complaints were significantly associated with depression. Among the elderly with no memory complaints, incorrect awareness was associated with 'no previous education' (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.3-9.8), 'age over 80' (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.4), and 'male' (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.0-5.2) ; however, it was not significantly associated with depression. CONCLUSION: Incorrect awareness of memory impairment is prevalent among the elderly. Further, elderly individuals of an advanced age with no education may have memory impairment without memory complaints.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Alzheimer Disease ; Depression ; Humans ; Memory ; Mild Cognitive Impairment

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, we evaluated the antihypertensive effects of enzymatic hydrolysate from Styela clava flesh tissue in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension. SUBJECTS/METHODS: S. clava flesh tissue hydrolysate (SFTH) (n = 34) and placebo (n = 22) were randomly allocated to the study subjects. Each subject ingested two test capsules (500 mg) containing powdered SFTH (SFTH group) or placebo capsules (placebo group) during four weeks. RESULTS: In the SFTH group, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly 4 weeks after ingestion by 9.9 mmHg (P < 0.01) and 7.8 mmHg (P < 0.01), respectively. In addition, the SFTH group exhibited a significant decrease in hemoglobin A1c with a tendency toward improvement in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, triglyceride, apolipoprotein B and plasma insulin levels after 4 weeks. No adverse effects were observed in other indexes, including biochemical and hematological parameters in both groups. CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggested that SFTH exerts a regulatory, antihypertensive effect in patients with T2DM and hypertension.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Apolipoproteins ; Aquatic Organisms ; Blood Pressure ; Capsules ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Double-Blind Method ; Eating ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Plasma ; Protein Hydrolysates ; Triglycerides