BACKGROUND: Endothelial adhesion molecule expression induced by pro-inflammatory cytokine plays an important role in vascular endothelial cell injury, leading to vascular disease. Allium tuberosum (AT), which is used as a functional food, has a thrombolytic effect. It contains vitamin A, vitamin C, carbohydrate, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. There are many carotenes that turn into vitamin A in the body. Also, it helps blood circulation and stimulates metabolism. The purpose of the this study was to estimate the anti-inflammatory effects of the AT extract. METHODS: Human vascular endothelial cells were pre-treated with 100 μg/mL AT extract for 30 minutes and subsequently co-treated with TNF-α (10 ng/mL) and AT extract (100 μg/mL) for 1, 4, and 6 hours. After treatment, the cells were lysed and used for quantitative reverse transcription PCR, Western blot analysis, and monocyte adhesion assay. RESULTS: We examined the effect of the AT extract on inflammatory gene expression in TNF-α-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The extract reduced the expression levels of mRNA and protein of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 in TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. It also inhibited the TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of the NF-κB p65 subunit and degradation of IκBα. Furthermore, the AT extract prevented the increased adhesion capacity of monocyte to TNF-α-stimulated vascular endothelial cells by reducing ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: The AT extract has preventive and anti-inflammatory effect against vascular disease and has potential for supporting prevention against the early process of atherosclerosis.
Allium* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Circulation ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium ; Carotenoids ; Chive* ; Endothelial Cells* ; Functional Food ; Gene Expression ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans* ; Inflammation* ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Iron ; Metabolism ; Monocytes ; Necrosis* ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphorus ; Phosphorylation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Vascular Diseases ; Vitamin A

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MS) and bone mineral density (BMD) in middle-aged women. METHODS: Three hundred eight premenopausal women were included in this study, including 268 women without MS and 40 women confirmed to have MS according to the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria. Clinical markers including anthropometric parameters, the serum lipid profile, and glucose level were determined and analyzed with the BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in femoral neck or lumbar BMD between the controls and women with MS. In correlation tests, the body mass index (BMI) showed a significant association with the femoral (r = 0.209, P < 0.001) and lumbar BMD (r = 0.176, P = 0.002). In addition, the waist circumference (WC) was also significantly correlated with the femoral (r = 0.142, P = 0.012) and lumbar BMD (r = 0.113, P = 0.048). CONCLUSION: The BMI and WC showed a significant positive association with the femoral and lumbar spine BMD in premenopausal women. Further studies with a large population will be needed to elucidate the combined effect of MS on BMD in middle-aged women.
Biomarkers ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Glucose ; Humans ; Spine ; Waist Circumference

BACKGROUND: Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung (CCAM) is a rare congenital developmental anomaly of the lower respiratory tract. Most cases are diagnosed within the first 2 years of life, so adult presentation of CCAM is rare. We describe here six adult cases of CCAM and the patients underwent surgical resection, and all these patients were seen during a five and a half year period. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical, radiological and histological characteristics of adult patients with CCAM. METHODS: Through medical records analysis, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical characteristics, the chest pictures (X-ray and CT) and the histological characteristics. RESULTS: Four patients were women and the mean age at diagnosis was 23.5 years (range: 18~39 years). The major clinical presentations were lower respiratory tract infection, hemoptysis and pneumothorax. According to the chest CT scan, 5 patients had multiseptated cystic lesions with air fluid levels and one patient had multiple cavitary lesions with air fluid levels, and these lesions were surrounded by poorly defined opacities at the right upper lobe. All the patients were treated with surgical resection. 5 patients underwent open lobectomy and one patient underwent VATS lobectomy. On the pathological examination, 3 were found to be CCAM type I and 3 patients were CCAM type II, according to Stocker's classification. There was no associated malignancy on the histological studies of the surgical specimens. CONCLUSION: As CCAM can cause various respiratory complications and malignant changes, and the risks associated with surgery are extremely low, those patients who are suspected of having or who are diagnosed with CCAM should go through surgical treatment for making the correct diagnosis and administering appropriate treatment.
Adult ; Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenital ; Female ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung ; Medical Records ; Pneumothorax ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thorax