Natural products are increasingly appreciated as a lead for drug discovery and development. A number of investigators have studied various activities of natural products and have found that they have not only nutritional effects but also beneficial properties to cure various diseases and to maintain good health. Job's Tear(Yul-Moo) is a grass crop that have long been used in traditional medicine and a nourishing food. Job's Tear has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory, stomachic, antiallergic activity, and antispastic effects and has been used in China for the treatment of warts, rheumatism, and neuralgia although its mechanism remains unclear. Previous results in our laboratory demonstrated that the ethanol extract and water extract of Job's Tear exerted an immune regulatory function on mice cells in vitro. The present study was performed to investigate the ex vivo effect of Job's Tear on immune function. Seven to eight weeks old mices(Balb/c) were fed ad libitum on chow diet and water extract of Job's Tear were orally administrated every other day for two or four weeks at two different concentrations (50 and 500mg/kg B.W.). Proliferation of mice spenocytes and antibody production to sheep red blood cells(SRBC) using hemolytic plague forming cell assay were used to indicate the immune activity. Splenocytes proliferation of Job's Tear with mitogen stimulation such as Con A and LPS was enhanced at 50 mg/kg B.W. concentrations compared to those of control group. In case of antibody production to sheep red blood cells, the number of antibody- secreting cells was increased by administration of 50mg/kg B.W. concentration in mice immunized as a T-dependent antigen. From the present study, Job's Tear water extracts may be suggested to stimulate the mice immune response by enhancing the splenocytes proliferation and the number of plague forming cells.
Animals ; Antibody Formation ; Biological Products ; China ; Diet ; Drug Discovery ; Erythrocytes ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mice* ; Neuralgia ; Plague ; Poaceae ; Research Personnel ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Sheep ; Stomach ; Warts ; Water

PURPOSE: This study was attempted in order to verify the effects of moxibustion on aged back pain and activities of daily living. METHODS: A research design is quasi-experiment with pre-post test design in nonequivalent control group. As for data collection and experimental treatment, it accidentally sampled totally 50 people with 24 people for the experimental group and 26 people for the control group who appeal for chronic back pain aged over 60 who visited 4 senior centers where are located in N city from November 7, 2012 to December 3, 2012. Experimental treatment was carried out moxibustion totally 12 times by 3 times for 4 weeks in the experimental group. Data analysis was made by using SPSS program. As an analytical technique, the experimental group and the control group were analyzed the homogeneity verification with t-test, Fisher's exact test and chi2 test and the hypothesis verification with t-test. RESULTS: The back pain level was reduced in the experimental group than the control group. The disability of daily living activities was reduced in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion was considered to be likely useful therapeutic method for effects of chronic back pain and disability of daily living activities in aged.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Back Pain* ; Data Collection ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Moxibustion* ; Research Design ; Senior Centers ; Statistics as Topic

Codonopsis lanceolatae has been used as one of the traditional remedies as well as food source. However, few studies on their immunomodulating effects have been reported. We previously reported that ex vivo supplementation of Codonopsis lanceolatae water extracts enhanced splenocyte proliferation compared to the control group. In order to elucidate its ex vivo effect, six to seven week old balb/c mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet and water extracts of Codonopsis lanceolatae were orally administrated every other day for four weeks at two different concentrations (50 and 500 mg/kg B.W.). After preparing the single cell suspension, the proliferation of splenocytes was determined by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-y]-2,5-diphenyl terazolium bromide) assay. The production of cytokine (IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha), secreted by macrophages stimulated with LPS or not, was detected by ELISA assay using a cytokine kit. After 48 hrs of incubation with the mitogen (ConA or LPS) stimulation, the mice splenocyte proliferation in experimental group was statistically increased at two different concentrations than that in control group. The cytokines production was more significantly enhanced at the lower supplementation (500 mg/kg B.W.) group rather than higher concentration (500 mg/kg B.W.) compared to the control group. The results of this study may suggest that the supplementation of water extract of plant mixture could regulate the immune function by increasing the splenocyte proliferation and enhance the immune function through regulating cytokine production capacity by activated macrophages in mice.
Animals ; Codonopsis ; Cytokines ; Diet ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Interleukin-6 ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Plants ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Water

Tumor necrosis factor-n (TNF - alpha) involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and contribute to the degeneration of oligodendrocytes as well as neurons. TNF - alpha is produced by miocroglia and astrocytes, which also produce hormones and cytokines that influence its biological activity. Astrocytes, the major glial cells in the CNS, are capable of producing TNF - alpha at both the mRNA and protein levels in response to interleukine-1 (IL-1) or TNF - alpha. Two immunosuppressive cytokines, transforming growth factor - beta (TGF - beta) and IL-10, have been shown to influence glial cell function. TGF - beta can modulate the activity of glial cells by inhibiting interferon-gamma (IFN - gamma) induced expression of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on astrocytes and microglia. To explore the role of astrocytes in the production of TNF - alpha, astrocytes were pretreated with IL-10 or TGF - beta and then stimulated with IL-1p to determine their effects on TNF - alpha production. The secretion of TNF - alpha by human fetal astrocytes was markedly inhibited by TGF - beta at a low concentration. In contrast IL-10 had no effect on TNF - alpha mRNA level. These results show that TGF - beta may regulate the expression of TNF - alpha in activated human fetal astrocytes.
Astrocytes* ; Cytokines ; Gene Expression* ; Humans* ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-10 ; Major Histocompatibility Complex ; Microglia ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Necrosis ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Oligodendroglia ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factors

This study was to investigate women's use state and satisfaction for commercial brand kimchi. Survey was carried out by questionnaire method that was target on 322 female in Seoul. The results of study was that women who purchased commercial brand kimchi, 40% consider its taste the most essential component of purchasing commercial brand kimchi. 63.4% respondents prefer purchasing poggi kimchi among other different types of commercial brand kimchi. Commercial brand kimchi consumers were highly satisfied with kimchi package or service and then taste, while its price and sanitation were factors that they were low satisfied. According to correlation analysis among satisfaction components, there were positive correlations between taste, price, sanitation, fermentation degree and other factors.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Female ; Fermentation ; Humans ; Questionnaires ; Sanitation ; Seoul*

The aim of this study was to measure the brand images of contract foodservice management companies by identifying brand image attributes and then developing a measurement scale to measure the weight of these attributes. The measurement scale was developed by following a 5-stage process that included face-to-face interviews with experts, literature review, questionnaire surveys, verification of scale validity, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. A total of 137 items measuring brand image were collected: 37 items from studies of brand image and corporate image, 55 items from studies of contract foodservice management companies and 45 items from the internet and websites of contract foodservice management companies. A survey was then conducted to assess the validity and reliability of the questionnaire items. Ultimately, the 137 items were reduced to 40 items. The calculated Cronbach's alpha for the 40 brand image items was 0.934, demonstrating good internal consistency. Based on exploratory factor analysis (EFA), employee attitude, menu content, corporate image, dining location and ambience, along with 33 subattributes, were identified as brand image attributes. Employee attitude was the most significant attribute influencing brand image. After confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and a review process, four brand image attributes and 33 subattributes were finalized and incorporated into the scale.
Androsterone ; Contracts ; Internet ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results

PURPOSE: The purposes of this phenomenological study were to explore the experience of preterm labor. METHODS: The participants were 7 women admitted to two obstetric hospitals in Kyunggi-do Province with preterm labor. Data was collected with MP3 records through individual in-depth interviews and participated observation. The data was analyzed by Giorgi(1985) method. RESULTS: The results were divided into six categories as follows: 1) Inappropriate coping: unexpected event, overwork, lack of insight of preterm labor, 2) Burn out: multiple role, burden, role conflict. 3) Restrictions of lifestyle: uncomfortable hospital environment, wearisomeness, limitations of personal hygiene, 4) Physical discomfort: headache, flush, tremor, palpitations, 5) Psychological distress : concerns about fetus health status, fear of possible preterm delivery, lack of information, financial worries, 6) A transition to new lifestyle: share of household chores, communication with self-help group, careful lifestyle. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study will offer a better understanding of women's preterm labor experiences and suggest clues to nurses on how to improve the care they provide.
Burns ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Fetus ; Headache ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Life Style ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Self-Help Groups ; Tremor

PURPOSE: To validate the Korean Version of the Jefferson Empathy Scale for Health professionals (K-JSE-HP) in a sample of Korean nurses. METHODS: Internal consistency reliability, construct and criterion validity were calculated using SPSS (22.0) and AMOS (22.0). Data were collected from 253 nurses (230 women, 23 men) working at one university hospital in Seoul, South Korea. RESULTS: The Korean version of JSE-HP showed reliable internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha for the total scale of .89, and .74~.84 for subscales. The model of three subscales for the K-JSE-HP was validated by confirmatory factor analysis (χ2=864.60, Q=6.55, p <.001, CFI=.94, NNFI=.92). Criterion validity compared to the Interpersonal Reaction Index (IRI) showed significant correlation. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrate that the Korean JSE-HP shows satisfactory construct and criterion validity and reliability. It is a useful tool to measure Korean nurses' empathy.
Empathy* ; Female ; Health Occupations* ; Humans ; Korea ; Reproducibility of Results ; Seoul

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to examine the relations among depression, life satisfaction and health promoting behavior, and to find factors related with health promoting behavior. METHODS: The subjects were 198 elderly people of over 65 living in K City and S City. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS/WIN 13.0. RESULTS: Health promoting behavior was significantly different according to religion, education level, living with family, previous job, pocket money, subjectively economic level, and leisure activities. Depression was significantly different according to education level, living with family, pocket money, economic level, and leisure activities. And life satisfaction was significantly different according to religion, living with family, and pocket money. The variables that affected the degree of health promoting behavior were depression, life satisfaction and living with family, and they represented 29.7% of health promoting behavior. CONCLUSION: The health promoting behavior of the subjects was better than average and, at the same time, the lower depression in the health promoting behavior was the higher life satisfaction was. Therefore, in order to decrease depression and to increase life satisfaction, the development of advanced health promoting programs will be helpful to lead health life for the elderly people.
Aged* ; Depression* ; Education ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Leisure Activities ; Personal Satisfaction ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Dermatitis* ; Tacrolimus ; Tetracycline*