No abstract available.
Animals ; Brain* ; Rats*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: There is growing interest in herbal medicines for managing age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s. Safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorius L. seeds, CTS) and dandelions (Taraxacum coreanum, TC) are widely used to treat bone- or inflammation-related diseases in Oriental countries. This study investigated the protective effect of the CTS–TC combination on scopolamine (Sco)-induced memory deficits through inflammatory response and cholinergic function. Moreover, marker components such as serotonin, N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, N-feruloylserotonin, chlorogenic acid, and chicoric acid in the CTS–TC combination were analyzed for their potential benefits on memory function.MATERIALS/METHODS: Water extracts of CTS, TC, and the CTS–TC combination at various ratios (4:1, 1:1, and 1:4) (100 mg/kg) were orally administered to mice for 14 days. Sco (1 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into the mice before each behavioral test. T-maze and novel object recognition tests were conducted to monitor behavioral changes after the treatment.Western blotting was performed to detect protein expression. In addition, the presence of 5 biomarkers, serotonin, N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, N-feruloylserotonin, chlorogenic acid, and chicoric acid, was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Behavioral tests showed that the CTS–TC combination enhanced memory function in Sco-injected mice. Inflammation-related proteins (inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and glial fibrillary acidic protein) were downregulated after treatment with the CTS–TC combination. The acetylcholinesterase protein expression was also downregulated.HPLC analysis revealed that N-feruloylserotonin and chicoric acid were the predominant components, followed by N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, chlorogenic acid, and serotonin. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that the CTS–TC combination protects against Sco-induced memory deficits by inhibiting inflammatory responses and cholinergic dysfunction. N-feruloylserotonin and chicoric acid, along with N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, chlorogenic acid, and serotonin, might be biomarkers for the CTS–TC combination, and their effects on memory protection warrant further study.

An excess of amyloid beta (Aβ) led to a rise in ROS production, which in turn caused inflammatory reactions and mitochondrial dysfunction, both of which accelerate the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Natural flavonoids are proposed as possible agents for neurodegeneration. Pectolinarin is an important flavone mainly found in Cirsium species. In this study, we explored the potential neuroprotective effect of pectolinarin in Aβ25-35 -induced SH-SY5Y cells. The result demonstrated that pectolinarin enhanced cell viability. Pectolinarin treatment inhibited Aβ25-35 -induced ROS generation. Pectolinarin also suppressed NO generation by inhibiting the translocation of NF-ĸB and downregulating protein expression of iNOS and COX-2. Moreover, the expression of Bcl-2 increased while BAX protein decreased when the cells were exposed to pectolinarin, resulting in a decrease in the BAX/Bcl-2 ratio. Pectolinarin treatment also increased BDNF and its receptor TrkB protein expression. In conclusion, pectolinarin neuroprotected Aβ25-35 -induced inflammation and apoptosis. These findings suggest that pectolinarin may be a promising neuroprotective functional food in the protection of the neurodegenerative diseases, including AD.

An excess of amyloid beta (Aβ) led to a rise in ROS production, which in turn caused inflammatory reactions and mitochondrial dysfunction, both of which accelerate the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Natural flavonoids are proposed as possible agents for neurodegeneration. Pectolinarin is an important flavone mainly found in Cirsium species. In this study, we explored the potential neuroprotective effect of pectolinarin in Aβ25-35 -induced SH-SY5Y cells. The result demonstrated that pectolinarin enhanced cell viability. Pectolinarin treatment inhibited Aβ25-35 -induced ROS generation. Pectolinarin also suppressed NO generation by inhibiting the translocation of NF-ĸB and downregulating protein expression of iNOS and COX-2. Moreover, the expression of Bcl-2 increased while BAX protein decreased when the cells were exposed to pectolinarin, resulting in a decrease in the BAX/Bcl-2 ratio. Pectolinarin treatment also increased BDNF and its receptor TrkB protein expression. In conclusion, pectolinarin neuroprotected Aβ25-35 -induced inflammation and apoptosis. These findings suggest that pectolinarin may be a promising neuroprotective functional food in the protection of the neurodegenerative diseases, including AD.

An excess of amyloid beta (Aβ) led to a rise in ROS production, which in turn caused inflammatory reactions and mitochondrial dysfunction, both of which accelerate the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Natural flavonoids are proposed as possible agents for neurodegeneration. Pectolinarin is an important flavone mainly found in Cirsium species. In this study, we explored the potential neuroprotective effect of pectolinarin in Aβ25-35 -induced SH-SY5Y cells. The result demonstrated that pectolinarin enhanced cell viability. Pectolinarin treatment inhibited Aβ25-35 -induced ROS generation. Pectolinarin also suppressed NO generation by inhibiting the translocation of NF-ĸB and downregulating protein expression of iNOS and COX-2. Moreover, the expression of Bcl-2 increased while BAX protein decreased when the cells were exposed to pectolinarin, resulting in a decrease in the BAX/Bcl-2 ratio. Pectolinarin treatment also increased BDNF and its receptor TrkB protein expression. In conclusion, pectolinarin neuroprotected Aβ25-35 -induced inflammation and apoptosis. These findings suggest that pectolinarin may be a promising neuroprotective functional food in the protection of the neurodegenerative diseases, including AD.

An excess of amyloid beta (Aβ) led to a rise in ROS production, which in turn caused inflammatory reactions and mitochondrial dysfunction, both of which accelerate the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Natural flavonoids are proposed as possible agents for neurodegeneration. Pectolinarin is an important flavone mainly found in Cirsium species. In this study, we explored the potential neuroprotective effect of pectolinarin in Aβ25-35 -induced SH-SY5Y cells. The result demonstrated that pectolinarin enhanced cell viability. Pectolinarin treatment inhibited Aβ25-35 -induced ROS generation. Pectolinarin also suppressed NO generation by inhibiting the translocation of NF-ĸB and downregulating protein expression of iNOS and COX-2. Moreover, the expression of Bcl-2 increased while BAX protein decreased when the cells were exposed to pectolinarin, resulting in a decrease in the BAX/Bcl-2 ratio. Pectolinarin treatment also increased BDNF and its receptor TrkB protein expression. In conclusion, pectolinarin neuroprotected Aβ25-35 -induced inflammation and apoptosis. These findings suggest that pectolinarin may be a promising neuroprotective functional food in the protection of the neurodegenerative diseases, including AD.

An excess of amyloid beta (Aβ) led to a rise in ROS production, which in turn caused inflammatory reactions and mitochondrial dysfunction, both of which accelerate the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Natural flavonoids are proposed as possible agents for neurodegeneration. Pectolinarin is an important flavone mainly found in Cirsium species. In this study, we explored the potential neuroprotective effect of pectolinarin in Aβ25-35 -induced SH-SY5Y cells. The result demonstrated that pectolinarin enhanced cell viability. Pectolinarin treatment inhibited Aβ25-35 -induced ROS generation. Pectolinarin also suppressed NO generation by inhibiting the translocation of NF-ĸB and downregulating protein expression of iNOS and COX-2. Moreover, the expression of Bcl-2 increased while BAX protein decreased when the cells were exposed to pectolinarin, resulting in a decrease in the BAX/Bcl-2 ratio. Pectolinarin treatment also increased BDNF and its receptor TrkB protein expression. In conclusion, pectolinarin neuroprotected Aβ25-35 -induced inflammation and apoptosis. These findings suggest that pectolinarin may be a promising neuroprotective functional food in the protection of the neurodegenerative diseases, including AD.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile is the most common pathogen of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Toxigenic strains produce toxin A and toxin B. The pathogenicity of C. difficile is due to the production of these two exotoxins. This study aimed to evaluate diagnostic value of two enzyme immunoassay by comparison of concordance rate to diagnose C. difficile-associated infection. METHODS: C. DIFF QUIK CHEK (TECHLAB, USA) that detect glutamate dehydrogenase antigen and VIDAS C. difficile Toxin A&B (BioMerieux, France) that detect toxin A and toxin B were done in 122 fecal specimens to detect C. difficile. RESULTS: In the total 122 stool specimens, 17 cases showed positive results in both tests. One specimen showed discrepancy that positive result in VIDAS C. difficile Toxin A&B (relative fluorescence value, RFV=2.93) but negative result in C. DIFF QUIK CHEK. Therefore, the concordance rate between two tests was 95.1% (116/122). Both anaerobic culture and in-house PCR for toxin B were negative in the discrepant fecal specimen and there was no clinical evidence that support C. difficile-associated diarrhea, so we concluded result in VIDAS C. difficile Toxin A&B as false positive. CONCLUSIONS: Although these two enzyme immunoassays targeted different antigen, they showed high concordance rate. The discrepant case was concluded to false positive in VIDAS C. difficile Toxin A&B test because it showed negative results in culture and PCR for toxin B and there were no clinical evidences of C. difficile-associated infection. It could be needed for analysis about conditions that cause false positive result in enzyme immunoassays to detect C. difficile toxin.
Azure Stains ; Clostridium difficile ; Diarrhea ; Exotoxins ; Fluorescence ; Glutamate Dehydrogenase ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Methylene Blue ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Xanthenes

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sinonasal inverted papillomas are benign but topographically aggressive neoplasms that have a high recurrence rate and seem to be associated with malignancy. The etiology of inverted papilloma remains unknown, but some hypotheses suggest that nasal polyps proliferation and chronic inflammation are due to allergy or various infectious lesions. This study was to elucidate the biological characteristics and the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) and Ebstein -Barr virus (EBV) and the expression of p53 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in sinonasal inverted papillomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 26 specimens from 26 individuals with normal nasal mucosae (n=10) and inverted papillomas (n=16) to determine the occurance of HPV and EBV infection and the expression of p53 protein and PCNA. RESULTS: Of the 16 Inverted papillomas, HPV DNA was detected in eight cases, HPV 18 was detected in two cases (18%), HPV 16 and HPV 33 were both found in every case (6%), HPV 6 and HPV 16 were coinfected in one case (6%), and other types were found in 3 cases. HPV DNA was not detected in the normal nasal mucosae. EBV DNA was detected in 10 cases (62%) out of 16 inverted papillomas ancl in two cases (20%) of 10 normal nasal mocosae. The altered p53 protein expression was observed in four cases (25%), and positive PCNA staining was detected in four cases (25%) out of 16 inverted papillomas. One positive PCNA staining was detected among 10 normal mucosae. The mean PC10 index was 16.0% in the inverted papillomas group and 4.1% in normal nasal mucosae group. CONCLUSION: An inverse correlation may exist between oncogenic HPV infection and p53 alteration in sinonasa1 inverted papillomas.
DNA ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; Human papillomavirus 6 ; Humans* ; Hypersensitivity ; Inflammation ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Mucosa ; Nasal Polyps ; Papilloma, Inverted* ; Population Characteristics ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen* ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the newly developed oral glyceryl monooleate (GMO)-paclitaxel in a hormone refractory prostate cancer model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A paclitaxel formulation was prepared from GMO, tricaprylin, Tween(R) 80 and paclitaxel. The tumor cells of prostate cancer (DU-145 cells) were incubated and then put into different paclitaxel concentrations. The tumoricidal activity was measured by using an indirect methylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cells of the DU-145 cell line were subcutaneously heterotransplanted into 18 nude mice, and they developed prostate cancer. The 18 mice were divided into 3 groups; the control group was injected with the DU-145 cell line (n=6), the GMO group was injected with GMO after the DU-145 cells were injected (n=6), and the oral GMO-paclitaxel group was injected with oral GMO-paclitaxel after the DU-145 cells were injected (n=6). The tumor volume was measured every week and the main organs were evaluated pathologically to determine the toxicity. RESULTS: On the MTT assay, the control group and the GMO group did not display cytotoxicity. However, treatment with the various GMO-paclitaxel formulations (0.1 microgram/ml, 1 microgram/ml, 10 microgram/ml) for treating the DU-145 cell line cancer induced cytotoxicity in a dose dependent fashion. The tumor volumes were not significantly changed in the group that was administered oral GMO-paclitaxel. However, there were significantly increased tumor volumes in the control group and the GMO group (p<0.05). Toxic changes were not detected in liver and kidney, and there was normal cellularity with a normal myeloid:erythroid ratio in the mice after the administration of oral GMO-paclitaxel. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed oral GMO-paclitaxel has a remarkable cytotoxic effect against DU-145 cells without systemic toxicity. Therefore, oral GMO-paclitaxel therapy promises to be a safe and effective modality for treating hormone refractory prostate cancer, and it can possibly replace IV paclitaxel.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Kidney ; Liver ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Paclitaxel ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Tumor Burden