Caffeic acid (CA) is a phenolic compound found naturally in plants and foods. CA and its natural derivatives are reported to have anti-cancer effects on many cancers, including melanoma. (E)-N-(4-Butylphenyl)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)acrylamide (4-BPCA) is an amide derivative of CA. Thus far, the anti-cancer effect and mechanism of 4-BPCA in melanoma cells remain unknown. Here we investigated whether 4-BPCA inhibits the growth of B16F10 cells, a mouse melanoma cell line. Of note, treatment of 4-BPCA at 5 M for 24 or 48 h significantly reduced the growth (survival) of B16F10 cells. On mechanistic levels, treatment with 4-BPCA for 24 h led to the activation of caspase-9/3, but not caspase-8, in B16F10 cells. 4-BPCA treatment for 2 or 4 h also decreased the expression levels of myeloid B-cell lymphoma 1 (Mcl-1) in B16F10 cells. However, 4-BPCA treatment for the times tested did not influence the expression levels of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) in B16F10 cells. Of interest, treatment of 4-BPCA for 2 or 4 h greatly reduced the phosphorylation levels of JAK-2 and STAT-5 without altering their total protein expression levels. 4-BPCA also had abilities to increase the expression and phosphorylation levels of glucose-regulated protein-78 (GRP-78) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor-2α (eIF-2α) in B16F10 cells. In summary, these results demonstrate firstly that 4-BPCA has a strong growth-inhibitory effect on B16F10 melanoma cells, mediated via activation of the intrinsic caspase pathway, inhibition of JAK-2 and STAT-5, and triggering endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.

No abstract available.
Bacteremia* ; Korea* ; Pasteurella multocida* ; Pasteurella*

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Drainage ; Humans ; Mandible ; Mandibular Fractures ; Prognosis ; Titanium

BACKGROUND: Seizures occur in 2-20% of stroke patients. Recent studies have reported that post-stroke seizures are associated with poorer functional outcomesand higher mortality. However there are no official guidelines on how to use antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in stroke-related seizures. In this study we surveyed neurologists and neurosurgeons and compared the responses of subgroups categorized by department, specialty and workplace discrimination using a questionnaire containing questions concerning the present tendency to use AEDs in stroke patients. METHODS: 256 neurologists and neurosurgeons participated in the survey. The research instrument was a questionnaire comprising 9 parts and 30 questions. The questions concerned stroke mechanism, the prophylactic use of AEDs, and the choice of AED in early and late onset post-stroke seizures. RESULTS: Tendencies to use prophylactic AEDs in stroke differed depending on specialty and workplace(neurologist vs. neurosurgeon; 17.8% vs. 83.1%, p<0.001, hospital vs. university staff; 46.2% vs. 28.4%, p=0.05). The most commonly used prophylactic AEDs were valproic acid (75%) and levetiracetam (60%). Carbamazepine was the most commonly used AED and phenytoin and phenobarbital were still used in all subgroups to treat post-stroke seizures. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences between neurologists (17.8%) and neurosurgeons (83.1%) in the use of prophylactic AEDs after stroke. Valproic acid and levetiracetam are considered first-line prophylactic AEDs by neurosurgeon. Phenytoin and phenobarbital are still used in post-stroke seizure although they have been reported to have an adverse influence on motor recovery. We suggest that proper guidelines should be established for the use of AEDs in stroke-related seizures.
Anticonvulsants ; Carbamazepine ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Humans ; Phenobarbital ; Phenytoin ; Piracetam ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seizures ; Stroke ; Valproic Acid

PURPOSE: Probiotic bacteria can induce immune regulation or immune tolerance in allergic diseases. The underlying mechanisms have been recently investigated, but are still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Lcr35) in a mouse model of asthma and to identify its mechanism of action. METHODS: Lcr35 was administered daily by the oral route at a dosage of 1x10(9) CFU/mouse in BALB/c mice for 7 days before the first sensitization. Clinical parameters and regulatory T (Treg) cells were examined. The role of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells was analyzed using a Treg cell-depleting anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody (mAb). RESULTS: Airway hyperresponsiveness, total IgE production, pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation, and splenic lymphocyte proliferation were suppressed after Lcr35 treatment. Th1 (IFN-gamma) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) cytokines in the serum were suppressed, and the percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells in the spleen was significantly increased in the Lcr35 treatment group. Anti-CD25 mAb administration abolished the protective effects of Lcr35, indicating that CD4+ CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells are essential in mediating the activity of Lcr35. CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of Lcr35 attenuated the features of allergic asthma in a mouse model and induced immune regulation by a CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cell-mediated mechanism.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Asthma ; Bacteria ; Cytokines ; Eosinophils ; Immune Tolerance ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-5 ; Lactobacillus ; Lactobacillus rhamnosus ; Lymphocytes ; Mice ; Negotiating ; Probiotics ; Spleen ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

The production of water-soluble pigments by fungal strains indigenous to South Korea was investigated to find those that are highly productive in submerged culture. Among 113 candidates, 34 strains that colored the inoculated potato dextrose agar medium were selected. They were cultured in potato dextrose broth and extracted with ethanol. The productivity, functionality (radical-scavenging activities), and color information (CIELAB values) of the pigment extracts were measured. Five species produced intense yellowish pigments, and two produced intense reddish pigments that ranked the highest in terms of absorbance units produced per day. The pigment extracts of Penicillium miczynskii, Sanghuangporus baumii, Trichoderma sp. 1, and Trichoderma afroharzianum exhibited high radical-scavenging activity. However, the S. baumii extract showed moderate toxicity in the acute toxicity test, which limits the industrial application of this pigment. In conclusion, P. miczynskii KUC1721, Trichoderma sp. 1 KUC1716, and T. afroharzianum KUC21213 were the best fungal candidates to be industrial producers of safe, functional water-soluble pigments.
Agar ; Colorimetry ; Efficiency ; Ethanol ; Fungi* ; Glucose ; Korea ; Penicillium ; Solanum tuberosum ; Toxicity Tests, Acute ; Trichoderma

Several children presenting with mild symptoms of respiratory tract infection were diagnosed with unclassified interstitial pneumonia with fibrosis. Their clinical and radiological findings were similar to those of acute interstitial pneumonia, but there were some differences in the pathological findings. Unclassified interstitial pneumonia with fibrosis is characterized by histological findings of centrilobular distribution of alveolar damage and bronchiolar destruction with bronchiolar obliteration. This report describes two different series of familial cases of unclassified interstitial pneumonia with fibrosis, which developed almost simultaneously in the spring. Some of the individual cases showed rapidly progressive respiratory failure of unknown cause, with comparable clinical courses and similar radiological and pathological features, including lung fibrosis. Each family member was affected almost simultaneously in the spring, different kinds of viruses were detected in two patients, and all members were negative for bacterial infection, environmental and occupational agents, drugs, and radiation. These findings implicate a viral infection and/or processes related to a viral infection, such as an exaggerated or altered immune response, or an unknown inhaled environmental agent in the pathogenesis of unclassified interstitial pneumonia with fibrosis.
Bacterial Infections ; Child ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Respiratory Tract Infections

There has been growing concern regarding the effects of ambient air pollution on asthma. Particulate matter (PM) is one of the major air pollutants affecting both general population and the patients with asthma. This paper reviews the recent evidence of the adverse effects of PM on the inception and morbidity of asthma. Epidemiological studies confirmed that short-term exposure to PM aggravated respiratory symptoms and lung function in asthma patients. Furthermore, PM induces acute exacerbations of asthma with increased risk of hospitalization and death. Long-term exposure to PM is responsible for new onset of asthma and lung function decline in both children and adults. Various mechanisms are involved in the effects of PM on airway including oxidative stress, augmentation of inflammation, promotion of allergen sensitization, induction of airway hyperresponsiveness, aggravation of rhinitis and DNA methylation. Special attention and care is needed for the patients with asthma to prevent the detrimental effects of PM.
Adult ; Air Pollutants ; Air Pollution ; Asthma* ; Child ; Disease Progression ; Disease Susceptibility ; DNA Methylation ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Oxidative Stress ; Particulate Matter* ; Rhinitis

PURPOSE: Lactobacilli are probiotic bacteria that are effective in the management of allergic diseases or gastroenteritis. It is hypothesized that such probiotics have immunoregulatory properties and promote mucosal tolerance. Our goal was to investigate whether Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus Lcr35 could inhibit airway inflammation in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine model of asthma. METHODS: BALB/c mice aged 6 weeks were used in the present study. Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus Lcr35 was administered daily, starting 1 week prior to the first OVA sensitization (group 1) and 2 days before the first 1% OVA airway challenge (group 2). Mice that received only saline at both sensitization and airway challenge time points were used as negative controls (group 3), and those that had OVA-induced asthma were used as positive controls (group 4). Airway responsiveness to methacholine was assessed, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed. At the endpoint of the study, total IgE as well as OVA-specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a in serum was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Lung pathology was also evaluated. RESULTS: Airway hyperresponsiveness, total cell counts and the proportion of eosinophils in BAL fluid were significantly decreased in group 1 compared with group 4 (P<0.05). Total serum IgE levels were also significantly decreased in group 1 compared with group 4. Serum levels of OVA-specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG(2a) were not significantly influenced by treatment with Lcr35. There was significantly less peribronchial and perivascular infiltration of inflammatory cells in group 1 compared with group 4; however, there were no significant differences in methacholine challenge, BAL, serology or histology between groups 2 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: Oral treatment with Lcr35 prior to sensitization can attenuate airway inflammation and hyperreactivity in a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation. These results suggest that Lcr35 may have potential for preventing asthma.
Aged ; Animals ; Asthma ; Bacteria ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Cell Count ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Inflammation ; Lactobacillus ; Lactobacillus casei ; Lactobacillus rhamnosus ; Lung ; Methacholine Chloride ; Mice ; Ovalbumin ; Ovum ; Primary Prevention ; Probiotics

PURPOSE: The prevalence of allergic diseases has risen over the last few decades. Many factors, including environmental factors such as those related to diet, have been considered. Among dietary factors, intake of antioxidant-related nutrients has been associated with the risk of allergic disease. We investigated the association of antioxidant nutritional status with allergic rhinitis (AR) in Korean schoolchildren aged 6-12 years. METHODS: Subjects were 4,554 children in Seoul, Korea. The risk of allergic disease was measured using the Korean version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, and dietary intake was measured by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Intake of vitamins A (including retinol and beta-carotene), C, and E was used in the analysis. RESULTS: Vitamin C intake was negatively associated with an increased risk of current symptoms (adjusted odds ratio, 0.886; 95% confidence interval, 0.806-0.973). There was no association between AR and intake of vitamin A, retinol, beta-carotene, or vitamin E. Total serum IgE level and sensitization to allergen did not differ according to nutrient intake. CONCLUSIONS: The group of children with increased vitamin C consumption had fewer AR symptoms, despite the lack of a difference in total serum IgE level or allergen sensitization. These findings suggest that nutrient intake, especially that of vitamin C, influences AR symptoms.
Aged ; Antioxidants ; Ascorbic Acid ; Asthma ; beta Carotene ; Child ; Diet ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Korea ; Nutritional Status ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins ; Surveys and Questionnaires