PURPOSE: Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes inflammation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) overexpression and extracellular matrix depletion, leading to skin photoaging such as wrinkle formation, dryness, and sagging. Activation of MMP is influenced by various molecules such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), proinflammatory cytokines, and transient receptor potential vanilloid type (TRPV)-1, which are increased in UV-irradiated skin cells. Aralia elata (AE) ethanolic extract was reported to inhibit ROS generation caused by UVB-irradiation in keratinocytes. In this study, we investigated the photoprotective effect of AE ethanolic extract on UVB-irradiated human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). METHODS: AE was freeze-dried, extracted in 70% ethanol, and concentrated. Skin cells were treated with AE extract for 24 h and then exposed to UVB (55 mJ/cm2). After 48 h of incubation, proinflammatory cytokines, MMP-1, type-1 procollagen, and TRPV-1 levels were measured by ELISA or Western blotting. RESULTS: Treatment with AE extract (100 µg/mL) significantly inhibited UVB-induced IL-6, IL-8, and PGE2 production in HaCaT by 25.6%, 5.3%, and 70.2%, respectively, and also inhibited elevation of MMP-1 and TRPV-1 caused by UVB irradiation by 20.0% and 41.9%, respectively (p < 0.05). In HDF, AE extract treatment significantly inhibited both elevation of MMP-1 and reduction of type-1 procollagen caused by UVB irradiation (p < 0.05). In addition, type-1 procollagen was elevated by AE extract treatment in normal HDFs (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: AE 70% ethanol extract has photoprotective ability via reduction of proinflammatory mediators, TRPV-1 and MMP-1 production, and elevation of collagen synthesis. Our findings suggest that AE extract might be a good natural material to protect against UVB-induced premature skin aging.
Aralia* ; Blotting, Western ; Collagen ; Cytokines ; Dinoprostone ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Ethanol* ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Keratinocytes* ; Procollagen ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Skin Aging ; Skin*

PURPOSE: Ultraviolet (UV)-induced oxidative stress contributes to several adverse biological effects on skin. Many phenolic phytochemicals have been shown to have antioxidant properties and protect skin cells from UV-induced oxidative damage. In this study, we investigated whether or not Aralia elata (AE) has a protective effect against UVB-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultimately leading to photoaging. METHODS: Phenolic content of dried AE and antioxidant properties of AE extract in 70% ethanol weredetermined by measuring DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The effect of AE extract on cellular ROS generation and expression levels of oxidative stress-response proteins such as superoxide dismutase (SOD)-1, catalase, nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf)-2,and heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in UVB-irradiated (75 mJ/cm²) human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were further determined by 2'-7'-dichlorofluoresceine diacetate assay and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of dried AE were 20.15 mg tannic acid/g and 18.75 mg rutin/g, respectively. The IC₅₀ of AE extract against DPPH radical was 98.5 µg/mL, and ABTS radical scavenging activity and FRAP upon treatment with 1,000 µg/mL of AE extract were 41.8 µg ascorbic acid (AA) eq./mL and 29.7 µg AA eq./mL,m respectively. Pretreatment with AE extract significantly reduced (p < 0.05) ROS generation compared to that in UVB-irradiated control HaCaT cells. Pretreatment with AE extract reversed reduction of Nrf-2 and SOD-1 protein expression and induction of HO-1 protein expression caused by UVB exposure in HaCaT cells, whereas it did not affect catalase expression. CONCLUSION: AE extract in 70% ethanol demonstrated a protective effect against UVB-induced oxidative stress and decreased expression of Nrf-2 and SOD-1 in human keratinocytes. These findings suggest that AE ethanol extract might have potential as a natural resource for a skin antiphotoaging product in the food and cosmetic industry.
Aralia* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Blotting, Western ; Catalase ; Ethanol* ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; Humans* ; Keratinocytes* ; Natural Resources ; Oxidative Stress* ; Phenol ; Phytochemicals ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Skin ; Superoxide Dismutase

No abstract available.
Facial Pain* ; Immunosuppression ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Kidney* ; Organ Transplantation

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive motor neuron degenerative disease that clinically manifests both upper and lower motor neuron signs. However, it is unknown where and how the motor neuron degeneration begins, and conflicting hypotheses have been suggested. Recent advanced radiological techniques enable us to look into ALS neuropathology in vivo. Herein, we report a case with upper motor neuron-predominant ALS in whom the results of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and myelin water fraction MRI suggest axonal degeneration.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis* ; Axons ; Brain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Motor Neurons ; Myelin Sheath* ; Neuropathology ; Pathology ; Water*

BACKGROUND: Korean orthography is composed of Hanja (ideograms) and Hangul (phonograms). Based on previous studies, the fusiform gyrus has been associated with ideogram reading. We examine serial functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) images in a patient exhibiting dissociation of Hanja and Hangul reading to identify brain areas associated with Hanja reading. CASE REPORT: fMRI were taken of a 63-year-old man showing profound Hanja alexia with normal Hangul reading after an acute stroke involving the left frontal and parietal lobes, who later spontaneously recovered his Hanja reading ability. Scans were taken while performing Hanja and Hangul reading tasks on three occasions. As a result, in spite of having profound Hanja alexia, partial activation of the fusiform gyrus was observed on the first fMRI. Serial fMRI scans showed activation of the bilateral middle frontal gyri that increased in parallel with the patient's recovery of Hanja reading. CONCLUSIONS: The frontal lobe, not only fusiform gyrus, may play role in reading Hanja, although more evidence is needed.
Brain ; Dyslexia* ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Middle Aged ; Parietal Lobe ; Reading ; Stroke* ; Temporal Lobe*

Functional bladder disorders including overactive bladder and interstitial cystitis may induce problems in many other parts of our body such as brain and gut. In fact, diagnosis is often less accurate owing to their complex symptoms. To have correct diagnosis of these diseases, we need to understand the pathophysiology behind overlapped clinical presentation. First, we focused on reviewing literatures that have reported the link between bladder and brain, as the patients with bladder disorders frequently accompanied mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Second, we reviewed literatures that have described the relationship between bladder and gut. There exist many evidences of patients who suffered from both bladder and intestinal diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, at the same time. Furthermore, the interaction between brain and gut, well-known as brain-gut axis, might be a key factor that could change the activity of bladder and vice versa. For example, the affective disorders could alter the activity of efferent nerves or autonomic nervous system that modulate the gut itself and its microbiota, which might cause the destruction of homeostasis in bladder eventually. In this way, the communication between bladder and brain-gut axis might affect permeability, inflammation, as well as infectious etiology and dysbiosis in bladder diseases. In this review, we aimed to find an innovative insight of the pathophysiology in the functional bladder disorders, and we could provide a new understanding of the overlapped clinical presentation by elucidating the pathophysiology of functional bladder disorders.

Circumscribed palmar or plantar hypokeratosis is a rare dermatosis, and it consists of asymptomatic erythematous, well-circumscribed and depressed patch with scaly borders on the palm or sole. It usually affects middle-aged or elderly women. Histopathologically, it has a sharp stair between the normal and involved skin, and a demarcated area with an abrupt decrease in the horny layer thickness. We report herein a case of circumscribed palmar hypokeratosis that was successfully treated with cryotherapy.
Aged ; Cryotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

Circumscribed palmar or plantar hypokeratosis is a rare dermatosis, and it consists of asymptomatic erythematous, well-circumscribed and depressed patch with scaly borders on the palm or sole. It usually affects middle-aged or elderly women. Histopathologically, it has a sharp stair between the normal and involved skin, and a demarcated area with an abrupt decrease in the horny layer thickness. We report herein a case of circumscribed palmar hypokeratosis that was successfully treated with cryotherapy.
Aged ; Cryotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

OBJECTIVE: Splenectomy has been proposed to be the standard therapy for patients with steroid refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). This study aimed to describe valuable factors predicting the effect of splenectomy in patients with ITP. METHODS: A total of 51 adult patients who underwent splenectomy for steroid refractory ITP were evaluated their medical records retrospectively. The response to the treatment was classified on the basis of the platelet count. RESULTS: The responding group included 35 patients (68.8%), the partial-responding group included 4 patients (7.8%), and non-responding group was 12 patients (23.5%). On univariate analysis, the response of splenectomy correlated with only the intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) response (66.7%, P=0.006), but hemolysis, autoantibody, a presence of accessory spleen, the response of steroid were not significantly associated with the effect of splenectomy. On multivariate analysis, the response of IVIG and the amount of platelet transfusion were independent variables of the response of splenectomy. CONCLUSION: Patients with ITP who have good responses to IVIG are likely to have a good or favorable responses to splenectomy.
Adult ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Platelet Count ; Platelet Transfusion ; Purpura* ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; Retrospective Studies ; Spleen ; Splenectomy* ; Thrombocytopenia*