AIM: To study antiasthmatic effect of citral from aqueous extract of fruit of cubeb litsea tree and its mechanism.METHODS: By inducing asthma with Ach-histamine method in guinea pig,cough with ammonia in mice and the output quantity of phenol red from the trachea in mice,the antiasthmatic was observed,preventing cough and eliminating phlegm effect of citral. By measuring the tension of guinea-pig isolated tracheal rings,the both influence of citral was observed on isolated guinea pig tracheal rings and inhibition's effects of citral on contraction induced by Ach.RESULTS: Citral prolonged apparently the incubation period of asthma due to Ach-histamine solution in guinea pig and the coughing incubation period,reduced coughing frequency induced by ammonia in mice,increased excretion of phenol red from the respiratory tract in mice,inhibited the constrictions induced by Ach,and shifted the dose-effect curves of Ach to the right.CONCLUSION: Citral has functions of expelling phlegm,relieving cough and resisting asthma,satisfactory bronchi spasmolysis.

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the relation between cytochrome P4502D6 (CYP2D6) gene polymorphism and the susceptibility of heroin spongiform leucoencephalopathy (HSLE).

METHODSWith polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique, the cytochrome P4502D6 gene polymorphisms were analyzed in HSLE cases and control subjects.

RESULTSThe frequencies of CYP2D6 (CYP2D6/C188, CYP2D6/L2938, CYP2D6/G4268) gene mutations were higher in HSLE patients than in the controls.

CONCLUSIONThe CYP2D6 gene mutation is associated with a high risk of HSLE.

Adult ; Canavan Disease ; chemically induced ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 ; genetics ; Female ; Heroin ; adverse effects ; Heroin Dependence ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify nurses' job satisfaction, patients' satisfaction, and direct nursing time according to the change in grade of nursing management fee.METHODS: Descriptive design was used in this study. Nurses (n = 200) and patients (n = 200) were recruited from one university hospital in Busan. Four aspects were measured: direct nursing time, overtime, nurses' job satisfaction, and patients' satisfaction. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, χ2-tests, and t-tests.RESULTS: There was a significant difference in patient satisfaction (t = -2.09, p = .038) and direct nursing time (t = -4.77, p < .001) when the nurse staffing grade was changed from the level two to the level one.CONCLUSION: The findings from this study showed that a higher nurse-to-patient ratio can provide a greater amount of direct nursing time for individual patients and increase patient satisfaction.
Busan ; Fees and Charges ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Nursing Staff ; Nursing ; Patient Satisfaction

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical and radiographic characteristics of heroin spongiform leukoencephalopathy (HSLE).

METHODSA clinical analysis of 42 cases of HSLE was conducted.

RESULTSClinically, the patients with HSLE all had a positive history of inhalation of heated heroin vapor with acute or subacute onset in most cases, presenting initially cerebellar signs. Pyramidal tract lesion was frequently involved, but the sensory system usually remained normal. The consciousness disturbances may occur in the serious cases. Brain CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed extensive symmetric white matter lesions in the cerebrum and cerebellum, and in serious cases, the midbrain and pons could be damaged. Spongiform vacuoles degeneration of white matter characterized the predominant pathological changes.

CONCLUSIONSpongiform leukoencephalopathy should be considered in a patient who shows acute cerebellar signs and reports a history of inhaling heated heroin vapor, and a definite diagnosis of HSLE can be made in such a case upon the identification of typical CT or MRI findings.

Adult ; Brain ; pathology ; Female ; Heroin Dependence ; complications ; Humans ; Leukoencephalopathies ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted glycoprotein that is expressed in various tissues, including brain, and mediates a wide range of cellular activities. In a previous study, the authors observed the robust neuroprotective effects of recombinant OPN and of RGD and SLAYGLR-containing OPN-peptide icosamer (OPNpt20) in an animal model of transient focal ischemia, and demonstrated anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects of OPNpt20 in the postischemic brain. In the present study, we investigated the effects of OPNpt20 on the motility and phagocytic activity of BV2 cells (a microglia cell line). F-actin polymerization and cell motility were significantly enhanced in OPNpt20-treated BV2 cells, and numbers of filopodia-like processes increased and lamellipodia-like structures enlarged and thickened. In addition, treatment of cells with either of three mutant OPN icosamers containing mutation within RGD, SLAY, or RGDSLAY showed that the RGD and SLAY motifs of OPNpt20 play critical roles in the enhancement of cell motility, and the interaction between exogenous OPNpt20 and endogenous αv and α4 integrin and the activations of FAK, Erk, and Akt signaling pathways were found to be involved in the OPNpt20-mediated induction of cell motility. Furthermore, phagocytic activity of microglia was also significantly enhanced by OPNpt20 in a RGD and SLAY dependent manner. These results indicate OPNpt20 containing RGD and SLAY motifs triggers microglial motility and phagocytic activity and OPNpt20-integrin mediated signaling plays a critical role in these activities.
Actins ; Brain ; Cell Movement ; Glycoproteins ; Ischemia ; Microglia* ; Models, Animal ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Osteopontin* ; Phagocytosis ; Polymerization ; Polymers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the quality (understandability and actionability) of health education materials for Korean-Chinese (KC) female migrant workers, using Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Printable Materials (PEMAT-P). METHODS: Educational needs assessment was conducted with 3 focus groups with 20 KC women and a focus group with 4 community stakeholders. The quality of the educational materials was evaluated by 3 experts and a community stakeholder, followed by a survey with 15 KC women using 17 items for understandability and 7 items for actionability by means of a Korean version PEMAT-P. RESULTS: The health educational calendar consists of 12 subjects out of 9 topics related to healthy lifestyles for preventing cardiovascular diseases. The overall mean understandability score was 98.8% and the overall mean actionability was 100%. CONCLUSION: Involvement of KC women and community stakeholders in the development of educational materials was found to be an effective strategy for increasing understandability and actionability of educational materials for KC female migrant workers. This study also demonstrates the PEMAT-P is a useful evaluation tool, emphasizing the actionability of educational materials.
Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Education* ; Female* ; Focus Groups ; Health Education ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Life Style ; Needs Assessment ; Patient Education as Topic* ; Transients and Migrants

Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphorylated glycoprotein secreted into body fluids by various cell types. OPN contains arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) and serine-leucine-alanine-tyrosine (SLAY) motifs that bind to several integrins and mediate a wide range of cellular processes. In the present study, the proangiogenic effects of a 20-amino-acid OPN peptide (OPNpt20) containing RGD and SLAY motifs were examined in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and in a rat focal cerebral ischemia model. OPNpt20 exerted robust proangiogenic effects in HUVECs by promoting proliferation, migration and tube formation. These effects were significantly reduced in OPNpt20-RAA (RGD->RAA)-treated cells, but only slightly reduced in OPNpt20-SLAA (SLAY->SLAA)-treated cells. Interestingly, a mutant peptide without both motifs failed to induce these proangiogenic processes, indicating that the RGD motif is crucial and that SLAY also has a role. In OPNpt20-treated HUVEC cultures, AKT and ERK signaling pathways were activated, but activation of these pathways and tube formation were suppressed by anti-αvβ3 antibody, indicating that OPNpt20 stimulates angiogenesis via the αvβ3-integrin/AKT and ERK pathways. The proangiogenic function of OPNpt20 was further confirmed in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model. Total vessel length and vessel densities were markedly greater in OPNpt20-treated ischemic brains, accompanied by induction of proangiogenic markers. Together, these results demonstrate that the 20-amino-acid OPN peptide containing RGD and SLAY motifs exerts proangiogenic effects, wherein both motifs have important roles, and these effects appear to contribute to the neuroprotective effects of this peptide in the postischemic brain.
Animals ; Body Fluids ; Brain Ischemia ; Brain ; Glycoproteins ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Integrins ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Osteopontin ; Rats

Deer antler has been widely prescribed in Chinese and Korean pharmacology. Although there have been several reports concerning the effects of deer antler, such as anti-aging action, anti-inflammatory activity, antifungal action and regulatory activity of the level of glucose, the effect on bone has not determined yet. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of deer antler on osteoblast differentiation. Hexane extract(CNH) and chloroform extract(CN-C) were acquired from deer antler(Cervus nippon) and MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts were cultured in the presence or absence of each extract. Osteoblast differentiation was estimated with the formation of mineralized nodules and the mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase(ALP), osteocalcin(OC) and bone sialoprotein(BSP) which are markers of osteoblast differentiation. Non-treated group did not show mineralized nodule. CN-C or CN-H-treated group showed minerlaized nodules in 16 days. In northern blot analysis, CN-C or CN-H-treated group showed the elevated expression of ALP, BSP and OC in 16 days. These results suggest the possibility to develop deer antler as a bone regenerative agent in periodontal therapy by showing the stimulating activity of deer antler on differentiation of osteoblast.
Animals ; Antlers* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blotting, Northern ; Chloroform ; Deer ; Glucose ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; Pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger